Single-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release: agee carpal tunnel release system

This single-group prospective cohort study was conducted to define the efficacy and safety of single-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release using the redesigned carpal tunnel release system (3M Healthcare, St Paul, MN). Eighty-six procedures in 69 patients were evaluated by objective motor/sensory testing and clinical outcome questionnaire at 10 days, and 6 and 10 weeks postoperatively. All cases were performed by the same surgeon using a similar local anesthetic technique. The subjective symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, including paresthesia, numbness, and pain, demonstrated substantial improvement by 10 days postoperatively, and less than 2% of the subjects remained symptomatic by 10 weeks. The percentage of patients with normal, static, two-point discrimination in the median nerve distribution, demonstrated significant improvement by 6 weeks postoperatively. Preoperative grip and three-point pinch strength were regained by 6 weeks postoperatively, while lateral pinch demonstrated substantial improvement in the same time period. Workers' compensation cases required a significantly longer time to return to work (mean, 40.8 days) than nonworkers' compensation cases (mean, 22.2 days). No difference, however, was demonstrated between workers' compensation and nonworkers' compensation cases with respect to the time of return to activities of daily living (mean, 13.5 days). There were no major neurovascular injuries incurred during the performance of the study. The most important complications included one mild reflex sympathetic dystrophy, three transient digital neuropraxias, and one superficial wound infection. In conclusion, the performance of single-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release using the redesigned Agee carpal tunnel release system is both a safe and efficacious procedure.