Mini-incision Carpal Tunnel Release

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome has been reported as the most common neuropathy in humans. The syndrome has a major impact on socio-economic life due to its high incidence and it usually affects the working-age population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results and reliability after our own mini-open incision with simple retractors from eye surgery, through a 1.5–2.0 cm long incision. For this reason, we used Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

The study included 24 operated hands in 23 patients (79% females; 21% males). The right hand was affected in 19 patients (83%), the left – in three patients (13%) and in one patient (4%) we performed bilateral decompression. The mean length of the incision scar was 1.5 ± 0.3 cm.В Subjectively, most of the patients (20 of 23) had improvement of paresthesia after 3 months postoperative examination. No patients reported recurrence of the symptoms that would require second decompression. Significant differences between the preand postoperative evaluation were observed in Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

In conclusion, our study presented that the median nerve decompression with a mini-incision technique was safe and effective operative technique with short learning curve, especially for experienced with opened techniques hand surgeons. The final results revealed that patients with mini-incision approach have satisfactory surgical outcomes, low postoperative complications, good patient satisfaction and appearance.