Two-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release: an outcome analysis of 333 hands

Outcome data were collected on 239 patients who underwent endoscopic release of the transverse carpal ligament. The procedure was performed on 333 hands in 239 patients. All patients had failed to respond to nonoperative management for carpal tunnel syndrome and had confirmatory electrodiagnostic studies. Patients underwent follow-up evaluations at 21, 28, and 42 days. Numbness and paresthesias were relieved in 98% of the operated hands, and pain was relieved in 90% of the hands. A satisfactory result was achieved in 325 hands, which resulted in a 98% overall satisfaction rate. Eighty-eight percent of the patients required only two or less doses of oral analgesic during the postoperative period. Only 50 hands undergoing endoscopic release exhibited scar tenderness or pillar pain beyond 28 days. Excluding workers' compensation patients, 83% of the patients returned to work in less than 28 days (average, 14.6 days). No operative complications were encountered, although 1 patient experienced postoperative reflex sympathetic dystrophy, which responded to conservative outpatient treatment.