Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 19, 2025
Metacarpal Small Incision for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Published on: April 5, 2024
Basal joint arthroplasty and carpal tunnel release comparing a single versus double incision: a prospective
Ignacio Esteban-Feliu1,2, Irene Gallardo-Calero3,4, Sergi Barrera-Ochoa5
1Hand Surgery Unit, Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital Universitari Vall D'Hebron, Passeig Vall Hebron 119, 08031, Barcelona, Spain.
Purpose:
Basal thumb joint osteoarthritis frequently coexists with carpal tunnel syndrome. The two conditions have traditionally been treated surgically through separate incisions. We sought to determine whether carpal tunnel release using a single incision during basal joint arthroplasty is as effective as a two-incision approach in patients with concomitant carpal tunnel syndrome and basal thumb joint osteoarthritis.
Methods:
For this purpose, 40 patients were randomly allocated to either a single-incision or double-incision approach, all of whom completed the full follow-up period. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, QuickDASH, and a 10-point visual analog scale pain-severity rating were obtained from patients 3, 6 and 12 months post-operatively.
Results:
The two treatment groups experienced comparable, progressive improvement in all symptom-, function-, and pain-related outcomes, with mean surgery time significantly shorter with the single-incision approach, and four versus zero patients in the double-incision group developing pillar pain (p = 0.035).
Conclusions:
Concomitant basal thumb joint osteoarthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome might be effectively performed through a single-incision approach, potentially avoiding any morbidity classically associated with a second incision.
Level Of Evidence:
Level II/Therapeutic Study.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04391751, 04/29/2020, retrospectively registered.
