gms | German Medical Science

59. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC)
3. Joint Meeting mit der Italienischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (SINch)

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC) e. V.

01. - 04.06.2008, Würzburg

Long-term outcome after endoscopic carpal tunnel release: a review of 810 surgical procedure

Meeting Abstract

Suche in Medline nach

  • corresponding author P. Quaglietta - Unità Operativa di Neurochirurgia, Azienda Ospedaliera Cosenza
  • G. Corriero - Unità Operativa di Neurochirurgia, Azienda Ospedaliera Cosenza

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. Società Italiana di Neurochirurgia. 59. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie e.V. (DGNC), 3. Joint Meeting mit der Italienischen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (SINch). Würzburg, 01.-04.06.2008. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2008. DocMO.14.09

Die elektronische Version dieses Artikels ist vollständig und ist verfügbar unter: http://www.egms.de/de/meetings/dgnc2008/08dgnc139.shtml

Veröffentlicht: 30. Mai 2008

© 2008 Quaglietta et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de). Er darf vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.


Gliederung

Text

Objective: The carpal tunnel syndrome is the most frequent peripheral nerve compression syndrome. Almost 15 years ago, endoscopic surgery of the carpal tunnel was introduced, in order to reduce postoperative pain and to shorten the length of the postoperative inactivity period, especially work absence. This study attempts to evaluate the long-term outcomes of endoscopic carpal tunnel release in a large patient cohort.

Methods: Eight hundred and ten surgical procedures in 690 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, who underwent an endoscopic carpal tunnel release by a single surgeon were reviewed retrospectively. Data included demographics, subjective complaints, preoperative examination findings and postoperative follow-up.

Results: The patients’ mean age was 49.8 years. The mean duration of symptoms was 22 months. Preoperative nerve conduction studies were consistent with the carpal tunnel syndrome in 685 patients (99.2%). All patients had either physical examination findings or nerve conduction studies consistent with a carpal tunnel syndrome. Six hundred and seventy patients (97.1%) obtained relief of symptoms. Complications included five (0.7%) wound infections, four (0.6%) tendon pains (transient), eighteen (2.6%) pillar pains (transient), fifteen (2.2%) injuries of the superficial volar arch and one (0.1%) injury of the neurilemma (open surgery reconstruction). Six hundred and fifty-one patients (94.3%) return to normal daily activities between 3 weeks and 3 months. Worker's compensation patients and non-worker's compensation patients returned to work full-duty at similar times after operation. Ninety percent of the employed patients returned to their original occupation.

Conclusions: The authors' data indicate that an endoscopic carpal tunnel release is relatively safe and a reliable alternative to the open procedure (provided there is good familiarity with endoscopic techniques and instruments). The patients had minimal postoperative morbidity, better subjective satisfaction, faster recovery grip strength, faster and a high return to work rate and low complication rate. These results can be better obtained with an appropriate patient selection, an adequate learning curve in endoscopic surgery, a perfect anatomical knowledge, and a good knowledge of open surgery.