[Surgical treatment of peripheral nerve compression syndromes]

Among 12,476 patients with diseases of the peripheral nervous system 54.3% had radical syndromes, 16.3% had acute injuries of the nerves, 25.2% had entrapment syndromes, 3.8% suffered from polyneuropathies and other diseases. Entrapment syndromes were encountered in 3143 patients. Carpal, ulnar, and tarsal canal syndromes, thoracic outlet syndrome, and syndromes of entrapment of the radial and peroneal nerves prevailed. A total of 763 operations were performed for the entrapment syndromes. The distribution of the syndromes and operations is shown in the table. From 10 to 20% of patients with tunnel syndromes needed surgical treatment. From 12 to 34 upper extremities were operated on annually per 100,000 population for the carpal tunnel syndrome; 90% of the operations were performed at out-patient clinics. Interfascicular neurolysis by means of microsurgical techniques was conducted mainly in the cubital tunnel syndrome. Operations in entrapment lesions are marked by high efficacy.