scholarly journals A Prospective, Randomized Trial Comparing Open and Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release Within the Same Patient

Hand ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 322-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett M. Michelotti ◽  
Kavita T. Vakharia ◽  
Diane Romanowsky ◽  
Randy M. Hauck

Background: Surgical management of carpal tunnel syndrome includes performing an endoscopic (ECTR) or open (OCTR) carpal tunnel release. Several studies have shown less postoperative pain and improvement in grip and pinch strength with the endoscopic technique. The goal of this study was to prospectively examine outcomes, patient satisfaction, and complications after both ECTR and OCTR in the opposite hands of the same patient. Methods: This was a prospective study in which patients with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome underwent surgical release with both techniques, with initial operative approach randomized in the more symptomatic hand. Demographic data and functional outcomes were recorded, including the pain score, 2-point discrimination, Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing, thenar strength testing, grip strength, carpal tunnel syndrome functional status score, carpal tunnel syndrome symptom severity score, and overall satisfaction. Results: Thirty patients completed the study; there were no significant differences in any measure at any of the postoperative time points. Symptom severity and functional status scores were not significantly different between groups at any evaluation. Subjectively, 24 of 30 patients did state they preferred the ECTR, mostly citing less pain as their primary reason, although pain scores were not significantly different. Differences in overall satisfaction were also not significant. Conclusions: Both techniques are well tolerated with no differences in outcomes. With the added cost and equipment associated with ECTR, and no added benefit, the usefulness of ECTR is questionable.

2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 146-151
Author(s):  
Niraj Ranjeet ◽  
Pabin Thapa ◽  
Krishna Sapkota ◽  
Pratyenta Raj Onta ◽  
Upendra Jung Thapa ◽  
...  

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition causing hand pain and numbness. The rationale of tenosynovectomy is to remove the flexor tenosynovium that is contributing to increased volume within the carpal canal, thus removal of this tenosynovium should give more space for the median nerve and there by relief from symptoms. Aims and Objectives: The main objective of our study was to assess the role of routine flexor tenosynovectomy in the treatment of CTS. Materials and Methods: Eighty-six hands with CTS were randomized into two groups, either to carpal tunnel release with or without flexor tenosynovectomy. All patients were requested to fill up the self-administered questionnaire for the assessment of symptom severity and functional status, examined for 2-point discrimination, grip and pinch strength, scar tenderness and patient satisfaction score preoperatively, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 6 months follow-up. Results: After the surgical release, both groups improved significantly with respect to symptom severity and functional status, 2-point discrimination, grip and pinch strength, scar tenderness and patient satisfaction score but there was no significant difference between the two groups. There were two cases of post-operative wound infection and one case of mild reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Conclusion: We conclude that routine flexor tenosynovectomy during surgical release of carpal tunnel in patients with CTS does not provide any added benefit nor does it increase any morbidity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-350
Author(s):  
J. Multanen ◽  
J. Ylinen ◽  
T. Karjalainen ◽  
H. Kautiainen ◽  
J. P. Repo ◽  
...  

Background and Aims: The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire is the most commonly used outcome measure in the assessment of carpal tunnel syndrome. The purpose of this study was to translate the original Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire into Finnish and validate its psychometric properties. Materials and Methods: We translated and culturally adapted the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire into Finnish. Subsequently, 193 patients completed the Finnish version of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, 6-Item CTS Symptoms Scale, and EuroQol 5 Dimensions 12 months after carpal tunnel release. The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire was re-administered after a 2-week interval. We calculated construct validity, internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and coefficient of repeatability. We also examined floor and ceiling effects. Results: The cross-cultural adaptation required only minor modifications to the questions. Both subscales of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (Symptom Severity Scale and Functional Status Scale) correlated significantly with the CTS-6 and EuroQol 5 Dimensions, indicating good construct validity. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.93 for both the Symptom Severity Scale and Functional Status Scale, indicating high internal consistency. Test–retest reliability was excellent, with an intraclass correlation coefficient greater than 0.8 for both scales. The coefficient of repeatability was 0.80 for the Symptom Severity Scale and 0.68 for the Functional Status Scale. We observed a floor effect in the Functional Status Scale in 28% of participants. Conclusion: Our study shows that the present Finnish version of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire is reliable and valid for the evaluation of symptom severity and functional status among surgically treated carpal tunnel syndrome patients. However, owing to the floor effect, the Functional Status Score may have limited ability to detect differences in patients with good post-operative outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Peng Lin ◽  
Ke-Vin Chang ◽  
Yi-Kai Huang ◽  
Wei-Ting Wu ◽  
Levent Özçakar

This network meta-analysis aimed to integrate the available direct and indirect evidence on regenerative injections—including 5% dextrose (D5W) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP)—for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Literature reports comparing D5W and PRP injections with non-surgical managements of CTS were systematically reviewed. The main outcome was the standardized mean difference (SMD) of the symptom severity and functional status scales of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire at three months after injections. Ranking probabilities of the SMD of each treatment were acquired by using simulation. Ten studies with 497 patients and comparing five treatments (D5W, PRP, splinting, corticosteroid, and normal saline) were included. The results of the simulation of rank probabilities showed that D5W injection was likely to be the best treatment, followed by PRP injection, in terms of clinical effectiveness in providing symptom relief. With respect to functional improvement, splinting ranked higher than PRP and D5W injections. Lastly, corticosteroid and saline injections were consistently ranked fourth and fifth in terms of therapeutic effects on symptom severity and functional status. D5W and PRP injections are more effective than splinting and corticosteroid or saline injection for relieving the symptoms of CTS. Compared with splinting, D5W and PRP injections do not provide better functional recovery. More studies investigating the long-term effectiveness of regenerative injections in CTS are needed in the future.


2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Żyluk ◽  
Z. Szlosser

We compared the results of carpal tunnel release in patients with the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome based on only clinical grounds and those diagnosed on clinical and electrophysiological grounds. Ninety-three patients, 83 women (89%) and ten men (11%), meeting the criteria of ‘typical’ carpal tunnel syndrome, were randomly assigned to receive carpal tunnel release with ( n = 45, 48%) or without ( n = 48, 52%) nerve conduction studies. Patients were followed-up at 1 and 6 months, by assessments that included the Levine scores, filament tests, grip and pinch strength. No significant differences in Levine scores were found at the 1 and 6 months assessments. Statistically significant differences were noted in three-point pinch strength and sensation; however, they were not of clinical importance. The results of the study show that the results of carpal tunnel release in patients with typical symptoms are no better after nerve conduction studies and, therefore, nerve conduction studies can be omitted.


2006 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 608-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M AL-QATTAN

During open carpal tunnel release in patients with severe idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome, an area of constriction in the substance of the median nerve is frequently noted. In a prospective study of 30 patients, the central point of the constricted part of the nerve was determined intraoperatively and found to be, on average, 2.5 (range 2.2–2.8) cm from the distal wrist crease. This point always corresponded to the location of the hook of the hamate bone. These intraoperative findings were compared with the “narrowest” point of the carpal canal as determined by anatomical and radiological studies in the literature.


Author(s):  
Vladeva E. P.

CTS is the most common compression neuropathy with an incidence of 125-515/100 000. It is a result of compression of the median nerve by the transverse carpal ligament. It is observed in 2 to 5% of the general population, more frequently in women.In the last few years the scientific society has acknowledged the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) and more and more frequently it is being used as a standard in CTS patients. The literature also contains numerous studies on the diagnostics and treatment of CTS using BCTQ.Aim of study. To investigate the effect of a complex of physical factors on the reverse development of symptoms of moderate carpal tunnel syndrome using BCTQ and to compare the results of the BCTQ subjective rating (SSS) (symptom severity scale) and function − FSS (functional status scale) with objective assessment measured by the ENG parameters of n. medianus Materials and methods. 57 patients with mild to moderate degree of carpal tunnel syndrome clinically proven by electroneurographic study were examined. 38.60% of the patients were with right hand affected, 9 patients (15.80%) with left hand affected and 26 patients (45.60%) with bilateral involvement (n=26), In the last group, we examined both hands, i.e. 57 patients and 82 hands were investigated.Based on the analysis of our own studies, we applied the following complex physiotherapeutic program to the patients involved in the study: ultrasound, electrophoresis with Nivalin (Galantamine), and traditional kinesitherapy program.Results and discussion. By analyzing the results of the symptom severity assessment of the first part of the questionnaire we find that subjective complaints of patients decreased statistically significantly at the end of physiotherapy course from an average of 2.67 before treatment to 2.21 at the end of FTP (p <0.01). This trend continues within 1 − 4 months after the end of physiotherapy − average 1.79 and maintains up to 4 − 8 months when the mean of the results is 1.69 (p <0.001). We found that with regard to the recovery of the function of the affected hand and the way it affects some of the activities of daily living, the results of the second part of the BCTQ - functional status scale - show a statistically significant improvement at the end of the physiotherapy course 1.91 to an average of 1.63 (p <0.001), with a tendency for long-term retention and a slight decrease in the average of the results obtained to 1.37 within the first control examination at 1-4 months (p <0.001) and resistance to this trend in the following months (4-8) − 1.31 (p <0.001).Based on the ANOVA analysis and the calculation of the η coefficient, we proved that there is no significant difference in the results obtained from the Boston questionnaire and those from the ENG examination. There is a high percentage of overlap - from 53.10% to 95.60%.Although the results of the questionnaire are based on the subjective assessment of the patient, there is a high percentage of overlap with those of the objective study (ENG), which is a prerequisite for assuming that the questionnaire is highly reliable and valid and can be used as a tool for evaluating and analyzing a number of CТ C studies, which is in line with Leite's findings that the Boston Questionnaire is highly reliable and can replace any other non-standard methods for assessing CTS severityConclusions. In the presented facts of the discussion impression makes the patient's influence both on the subjective complaints and the clinical symptoms as well as on the degree of restoration of the affected hand functions at the end of the physiotherapy course, the continuation of this trend up to 4 months after the end of the treatment and maintaining it for 4 to 8 months.Although the results of BCTQ are based on the subjective assessment of the patient, there is a high percentage of overlap with those of the objective study (ENG), which is a prerequisite for assuming that the questionnaire is highly reliable and valid and can be used as a tool for evaluating and analyzing a number of carpal tunnel studies, which is in line with Leite's findings that the Boston Questionnaire is highly reliable and can replace any other non-standard methods for assessing CTS severity


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 89-96
Author(s):  
Jehan Zeb ◽  
Muhammad Ullah ◽  
Muhammad Shoaib ◽  
Syed Shah ◽  
Walayat Shah ◽  
...  

Purpose: To determine the outcome of microscopic carpal tunnel release in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome who failed to respond to conservative treatment. Methodology: This descriptive case series was carried at Department of Neurosurgery, D.H.Q Hosptial Charsadda over 1 year from Jan 2019 to Dec 2020, indicate the sampling method used to select the study participants involving 94 patients; both men and women with ages in the range 30-70 years diagnosed of carpal tunnel syndrome who failed to respond to conservative treatment and were planned for surgical release. Microscopic CTS release was performed and outcomes were assessed in terms of improvement in VAS score for wrist pain, symptom severity score and function status scale 3 and 6 months after the surgery. Recurrence of symptoms was also noted. A written informed consent was obtained from every patient. Indicate the method of data collection and data analysis Findings: The mean age of the patients with carpal tunnel syndrome was 41.6±7.9 years. There was slight female predominance with male to female ratio of 1:2.1. History of diabetes was recorded in 29 (31.0%) patients while 34 (37.0%) patients were obese. Right hand was more frequently involved (53.0%) than the left hand (47.0%). The mean VAS score for wrist pain reduced from 7.9±1.2 at baseline to 1.8±0.7 3 months after the surgery (p- value<0.001). Similar improvements were also noted in symptom severity score (3.8±0.8 to 1.6±0.8; p- value<0.001) and function status scale (2.7±0.8 to 1.5±0.8; p-value<0.001) at the end of 3 months after the surgery. Recurrence was not observed in any patient at the end of 6 months follow-up. Recommendation: Microscopic carpal tunnel release was found to relieve patient’s symptoms and improve wrist function yet with minimal scarring and without recurrence which advocates its preferred use in future practice provided necessary surgical skills and hardware are available.


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