title: Pitfalls in carpal tunnel decompression.
abstract: In the period 1972 to 1977, 35 patients with persistent pain and other disabilities after carpal tunnel decompression were referred for treatment. The pitfalls included: (i) wrong diagnosis--5 patients; (ii) inadequate decompression--9 patients; (iii) recurrent compression--4 patients; (iv) iatrogenic nerve injury--7 patients; and (v) postoperative complications--10 patients. The patients in Groups 1 and 5 were treated by non-operative measures. Most of the patients in Groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated by reoperation. This paper outlines the causes and prevention of pitfalls in carpal tunnel decompression.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000293:injuries; D008875:Middle Aged; D009443:Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000175:diagnosis