scholarly journals Abductor Digiti Minimi Flap for Vascularized Coverage in the Surgical Management of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Following Carpal Tunnel Release

Hand ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 546-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Cheung ◽  
Melissa A. Klausmeyer ◽  
Jesse B. Jupiter

Background: The development of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) represents a potentially devastating complication following carpal tunnel release. In the presence of a suspected incomplete release of the transverse carpal ligament or direct injury to the median nerve, neurolysis as well as nerve coverage to prevent recurrent scar has been shown to be effective. Methods: Retrospective chart review and telephone interview was conducted for patients who underwent abductor digiti minimi flap coverage and neurolysis of the median nerve for CRPS following carpal tunnel release. Results: Fourteen wrists in 12 patients were reviewed. Mean patient age was 64 years (range, 49-83 years), and the mean follow-up was 44 months. Carpal tunnel outcome instrument scores were 47.4 ± 6.8 preoperatively and 27.1 ± 10.6 at follow-up ( P < .001). Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) scores at follow-up were 29.4 ± 26. No significant postoperative complications were identified. Conclusions: The abductor digiti minimi flap is a reliable option with minimal donor site morbidity. It provides predictable coverage when treating CRPS following carpal tunnel syndrome.

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter C. Chimenti ◽  
Allison W. McIntyre ◽  
Sean M. Childs ◽  
Warren C. Hammert ◽  
John C. Elfar

Background: Resolution of symptoms including pain, numbness, and tingling outside of the median nerve distribution has been shown to occur following carpal tunnel release. We hypothesized that a similar effect would be found after combined release of the ulnar nerve at the elbow with simultaneous release of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel. Methods: 20 patients with combined cubital and carpal tunnel syndrome were prospectively enrolled. The upper extremity was divided into six zones and the location of pain, numbness, tingling, or strange sensations was recorded pre-operatively. Two-point discrimination, Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing, and validated questionnaires were collected pre-operatively and at six-week follow-up. Results: Probability of resolution was greater in the median nerve distribution than the ulnar nerve for numbness (71% vs. 43%), tingling (86% vs. 75%). Seventy percent of the cohort reported at least one extra-anatomic symptom pre-operatively, and greater than 80% of these resolved at early follow-up. There was a decrease in pain as measured by validated questionnaires. Conclusion: This study documents resolution of symptoms in both extra-ulnar and extra-median distributions after combined cubital and carpal tunnel release. Pre-operative patient counseling may therefore include the likelihood of symptomatic improvement in a non-expected nerve distribution after this procedure, assuming no other concomitant pathology which may cause persistent symptoms. Future studies could be directed at correlating pre-operative disease severity with probability of symptom resolution using a larger population.


2009 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Koh ◽  
F. Moate ◽  
D. Grinsell

This study highlights the benefits of carpal tunnel release (CTR) in four patients presenting with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) after hand surgery who also had carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) diagnosed clinically and by nerve conduction studies. Three of the patients underwent pre- and postoperative volumetric, circumference, grip strength and range of motion measurements. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) functional outcome measure and pain scores were also used. There was almost complete resolution of CRPS symptoms in all four patients, with notable reductions in oedema and improvements in grip strength and range of motion. There were also improvements in DASH outcome scores and pain scores after CTR.


Hand ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 155894472110588
Author(s):  
Louis C. Grandizio ◽  
Daniela F. Barreto Rocha ◽  
John D. Beck ◽  
Sean Hostmeyer ◽  
Matthew L. Chorney ◽  
...  

Background: Our purpose was to describe structural and morphological features of the median nerve and carpal tunnel on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies obtained before, immediately after, 6 weeks after, and 6 years after endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR). Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 9 patients with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) underwent ECTR. Standardized MRI studies were obtained before ECTR, immediately after ECTR, and 6 weeks and 6 years after surgery. Structural and morphological features of the median nerve and carpal tunnel were measured and assessed for each study with comparisons made between each time point. Results: All 9 patients had complete symptom resolution postoperatively. On the immediate postoperative MRI, there was a discrete gap in the transverse carpal ligament in all patients. There was retinacular regrowth noted at 6 weeks in all cases. The median nerve cross-sectional area and the anterior-posterior dimension of the carpal tunnel at the level of the hamate increased immediately after surgery and these changes were maintained at 6 years. Conclusions: We defined structural and morphological changes on MRI for the median nerve and carpal tunnel in patients with continued symptom resolution 6 years after ECTR. Changes in median nerve and carpal tunnel morphology that occur immediately after surgery remain unchanged at mid-term follow-up in asymptomatic patients. Established imaging criteria for CTS may not apply to postoperative patients. Magnetic resonance imaging appears to be of limited clinical utility in the workup of persistent or recurrent CTS.


1988 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-396
Author(s):  
M. ALTISSIMI ◽  
G. B. MANCINI

Carpal tunnel release was performed under local anaesthesia in 124 wrists of 108 patients. The local anaesthetic was injected into the carpal tunnel and into the subcutaneous tissue under the line of the skin incision. A tourniquet was used in all cases. Analgesia was complete in all but six patients. Only one patient had real difficulty in tolerating the tourniquet. In 18 cases the median nerve, when exposed at operation, showed evidence of some damage caused by the needle or by injection of local anaesthetic but, at follow-up, no symptoms or signs related to this damage were found.


Hand ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 391-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitchell Buller ◽  
Steven Schulz ◽  
Morton Kasdan ◽  
Bradon J. Wilhelmi

Background: To determine the incidence of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) in the concurrent surgical treatment of Dupuytren contracture (DC) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) through a thorough review of evidence available in the literature. Methods: The indices of 260 hand surgery books and PubMed were searched for concomitant references to DC and CTS. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they evaluated the outcome of patients treated with simultaneous fasciectomy or fasciotomy for DC and carpal tunnel release using CRPS as a complication of treatment. Of the literature reviewed, only 4 studies met the defined criteria for use in the study. Data from the 4 studies were pooled, and the incidence of recurrence and complications, specifically CRPS, was noted. Results: The rate of CRPS was found to be 10.4% in the simultaneous treatment group versus 4.1% in the fasciectomy-only group. This rate is nearly half the 8.3% rate of CRPS found in a randomized trial of patients undergoing carpal tunnel release. Conclusions: Our analysis demonstrates a marginal increase in the occurrence of CRPS by adding the carpal tunnel release to patients in need of fasciectomy, contradicting the original reports demonstrating a much higher rate of CRPS. This indicates that no clear clinical risk is associated with simultaneous surgical treatment of DC and CTS. In some patients, simultaneous surgical management of DC and CTS can be accomplished safely with minimal increased risk of CRPS type 1.


Hand ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 155894472091918
Author(s):  
Cory Demino ◽  
John R. Fowler

Background: Ultrasound has been well established as a diagnostic modality for carpal tunnel syndrome, but its prognostic utility has not been deeply investigated. Few studies, showing contradictory results, exist investigating ultrasound results as a predictor of patient outcomes. Methods: Patients with ultrasound measurement of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve who completed the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and followed up after surgery were included in the study. A total of 199 wrists from 172 patients met the inclusion criteria. Preoperative CSA of the median nerve at the wrist was compared with change in BCTQ at various follow-up times postoperatively. Results: The BCTQ score was found on average to decrease for patients after surgery at all 3 follow-up times. There was a larger decrease in the preoperative BCTQ with each progressive follow-up time, with the largest change of 1.43 points coming at 6+ months. The average change in BCTQ at each follow-up time was found to be greater than the minimal clinically important difference. The greatest R2 for preoperative CSA compared with change in BCTQ was 0.0552 for the 6+ month visits. No specific CSA value or range above or below which patients have better postoperative outcomes was found. Conclusions: Higher preoperative CSA, signifying worse carpal tunnel severity, showed almost no correlation with better outcomes after carpal tunnel release surgery as measured by improvement in patient-reported outcome scores.


2021 ◽  
pp. 175319342110017
Author(s):  
Saskia F. de Roo ◽  
Philippe N. Sprangers ◽  
Erik T. Walbeehm ◽  
Brigitte van der Heijden

We performed a systematic review on the success of different surgical techniques for the management of recurrent and persistent carpal tunnel syndrome. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria and were grouped by the type of revision carpal tunnel release, which were simple open release, open release with flap coverage or open release with implant coverage. Meta-analysis showed no difference, and pooled success proportions were 0.89, 0.89 and 0.85 for simple open carpal tunnel release, additional flap coverage and implant groups, respectively. No added value for coverage of the nerve was seen. Our review indicates that simple carpal tunnel release without additional coverage of the median nerve seems preferable as it is less invasive and without additional donor site morbidity. We found that the included studies were of low quality with moderate risk of bias and did not differentiate between persistent and recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome.


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