gms | German Medical Science

Objectives/Interrogation: Evaluate functional outcome in patients treated by mini Open Carpal Tunnel Release (mOCTR) and Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release (ECTR, one portal Agee technique, Microaire®) with Bilateral Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release (BECTR)

Methods: Patients with CTS seen between in our Hospital with failure of conservative treatment and confirmation with electrodiagnostic studies were operated by mOCTR or ECTR and BECTR. Boston score and grip strength, were evalauted at pre op, and 2 and 12 weeks. Patients with previous carpal tunnel surgery, acute CTS and with concomitant hand pathology that needed surgery were excluded. Approval of the hospital ethics committee was obtained for this study.

Statistical analysis was done with programs IBM SPSS Statistic version 20 and STATA and the Friedman Test for the analysis for Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionaire (BCTQ), and Wilcoxon Test to compare between techniques.

Results and Conclusions: in this retrospective non randomized study, a total of 63 patients meet the inclusion criteria (BECTR 12,ECTR 29, OCTR 21 in each group). Demographics of both group were comparable Boston score were similar in the pre op evaluation in all groups and at the 2 weeks control decrease in almost the same way with no statistical difference between groups using the Wilcoxon rank sum test (p=0,19,p=0,18). At 12 weeks, we found statistical difference between group with a better outcome in the BCTQ for the Endoscopic techniques. Grip strength had a similar behaviour in all groups, having diminished than preop at 2 weeks evaluation. At 12 weeks all groups had better strength than 2 weeks and pre op. No significant differences were established between groups.

Conclusion: no difference between de BECTR and ECTR or OCTR after surgery, which it's beneficial in patients with indication for surgery in both hands in terms of Operating Room, sick leave and costs for the BECTR Group vs the staged procedures (ECTR and OCTR).