Endoscopic treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: a critical review. 1998

D F Jimenez, and S R Gibbs, and A T Clapper
Division of Neurosurgery, University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics, Columbia, USA. djimenez@surgery.missouri.edu

OBJECTIVE The goal of this paper is to present a critical review of the endoscopic procedures currently in use for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Endoscopic techniques and outcomes are discussed. METHODS An extensive review of published articles on the subject of endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery is presented, encompassing six endoscopic techniques used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Since the first report in 1987, 7091 patients have undergone 8068 operations. The overall success rate has been 96.52%, with a complication rate of 2.67% and a failure rate of 2.61%. The mean time to return to work in patients not receiving Workers' Compensation was 17.8 days, ranging between 10.8 and 22.3 days. The most common complications were transient paresthesias of the ulnar and median nerves. Other complications included superficial palmar arch injuries, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, flexor tendon lacerations, and incomplete transverse carpal ligament division. In many studies in which open and endoscopic techniques were compared, it was reported that patients in the the latter group experienced significantly less pain and returned to work and activities of daily living earlier. CONCLUSIONS Success and complication rates of endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery are similar to those for standard open procedures.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007431 Intraoperative Complications Complications that affect patients during surgery. They may or may not be associated with the disease for which the surgery is done, or within the same surgical procedure. Peroperative Complications,Surgical Injuries,Complication, Intraoperative,Complication, Peroperative,Injuries, Surgical,Complications, Intraoperative,Complications, Peroperative,Injury, Surgical,Intraoperative Complication,Peroperative Complication,Surgical Injury
D008023 Ligaments, Articular Fibrous cords of CONNECTIVE TISSUE that attach bones to each other and hold together the many types of joints in the body. Articular ligaments are strong, elastic, and allow movement in only specific directions, depending on the individual joint. Articular Ligament,Articular Ligaments,Ligament, Articular
D008475 Median Nerve A major nerve of the upper extremity. In humans, the fibers of the median nerve originate in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord (usually C6 to T1), travel via the brachial plexus, and supply sensory and motor innervation to parts of the forearm and hand. Median Nerves,Nerve, Median,Nerves, Median
D010149 Pain, Postoperative Pain during the period after surgery. Acute Post-operative Pain,Acute Postoperative Pain,Chronic Post-operative Pain,Chronic Post-surgical Pain,Chronic Postoperative Pain,Chronic Postsurgical Pain,Pain, Post-operative,Persistent Postsurgical Pain,Post-operative Pain,Post-operative Pain, Acute,Post-operative Pain, Chronic,Post-surgical Pain,Postoperative Pain, Acute,Postoperative Pain, Chronic,Postsurgical Pain,Postoperative Pain,Acute Post operative Pain,Chronic Post operative Pain,Chronic Post surgical Pain,Chronic Postsurgical Pains,Pain, Acute Post-operative,Pain, Acute Postoperative,Pain, Chronic Post-operative,Pain, Chronic Post-surgical,Pain, Chronic Postoperative,Pain, Chronic Postsurgical,Pain, Persistent Postsurgical,Pain, Post operative,Pain, Post-surgical,Pain, Postsurgical,Post operative Pain,Post operative Pain, Acute,Post operative Pain, Chronic,Post surgical Pain,Post-operative Pains,Post-surgical Pain, Chronic,Postsurgical Pain, Chronic,Postsurgical Pain, Persistent
D010292 Paresthesia Subjective cutaneous sensations (e.g., cold, warmth, tingling, pressure, etc.) that are experienced spontaneously in the absence of stimulation. Dysesthesia,Formication,Paresthesia, Distal,Paresthesia, Painful,Distal Paresthesia,Distal Paresthesias,Dysesthesias,Formications,Painful Paresthesia,Painful Paresthesias,Paresthesias,Paresthesias, Distal,Paresthesias, Painful
D012019 Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy A syndrome characterized by severe burning pain in an extremity accompanied by sudomotor, vasomotor, and trophic changes in bone without an associated specific nerve injury. This condition is most often precipitated by trauma to soft tissue or nerve complexes. The skin over the affected region is usually erythematous and demonstrates hypersensitivity to tactile stimuli and erythema. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1360; Pain 1995 Oct;63(1):127-33) Algodystrophy,Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type I,Pain Syndrome Type I, Regional, Complex,Shoulder-Hand Syndrome,Sudek Atrophy,Algodystrophic Syndrome,CRPS Type I,Cervical Sympathetic Dystrophy,Pain Syndrome Type I, Complex Regional,RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy),Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome,Sudek's Atrophy,Sympathetic Reflex Dystrophia,Syndrome, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy,Type I Complex Regional Pain Syndrome,Algodystrophies,Atrophies, Sudek's,Atrophy, Sudek,Atrophy, Sudek's,CRPS Type Is,Cervical Sympathetic Dystrophies,Dystrophies, Cervical Sympathetic,Dystrophies, Reflex Sympathetic,Dystrophy, Cervical Sympathetic,Dystrophy, Reflex Sympathetic,RSDs (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy),Reflex Dystrophia, Sympathetic,Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophies,Shoulder Hand Syndrome,Shoulder-Hand Syndromes,Sudek's Atrophies,Sudeks Atrophy,Sympathetic Dystrophies, Cervical,Sympathetic Dystrophies, Reflex,Sympathetic Dystrophy, Cervical,Sympathetic Dystrophy, Reflex,Sympathetic Reflex Dystrophias,Syndrome, Algodystrophic,Syndrome, Shoulder-Hand,Syndromes, Shoulder-Hand,Type I, CRPS
D002349 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Entrapment of the MEDIAN NERVE in the carpal tunnel, which is formed by the flexor retinaculum and the CARPAL BONES. This syndrome may be associated with repetitive occupational trauma (CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDERS); wrist injuries; AMYLOID NEUROPATHIES; rheumatoid arthritis (see ARTHRITIS, RHEUMATOID); ACROMEGALY; PREGNANCY; and other conditions. Symptoms include burning pain and paresthesias involving the ventral surface of the hand and fingers which may radiate proximally. Impairment of sensation in the distribution of the median nerve and thenar muscle atrophy may occur. (Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1995, Ch51, p45) Compression Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel,Entrapment Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel,Amyotrophy, Thenar, Of Carpal Origin,Median Neuropathy, Carpal Tunnel,Carpal Tunnel Syndromes,Syndrome, Carpal Tunnel,Syndromes, Carpal Tunnel
D004651 Employment The state of being engaged in an activity or service for wages or salary. Employment Termination,Employment Status,Labor Force,Occupational Status,Status, Occupational,Underemployment,Labor Forces,Status, Employment,Termination, Employment
D004724 Endoscopy Procedures of applying ENDOSCOPES for disease diagnosis and treatment. Endoscopy involves passing an optical instrument through a small incision in the skin i.e., percutaneous; or through a natural orifice and along natural body pathways such as the digestive tract; and/or through an incision in the wall of a tubular structure or organ, i.e. transluminal, to examine or perform surgery on the interior parts of the body. Endoscopic Surgical Procedures,Surgical Procedures, Endoscopic,Endoscopic Surgical Procedure,Endoscopy, Surgical,Surgical Endoscopy,Surgical Procedure, Endoscopic,Procedure, Endoscopic Surgical,Procedures, Endoscopic Surgical
D006230 Hand Injuries General or unspecified injuries to the hand. Injuries, Hand,Hand Injury,Injury, Hand

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