Endoscopic carpal tunnel release.
We have performed 149 consecutive one-portal and 152 consecutive two-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release operations. Average time to cessation of preoperative symptoms was 15 days in both the one-portal and two-portal groups. The average time of return to work was 16 days in the one-portal group and 17 days in the two-portal group. The complication rate in the one-portal group was 6%, and in the two-portal group it was 5%. In our opinion, the one-portal release technique is much more difficult and inherently more dangerous than the two-portal technique, and we recommend the latter for endoscopic carpal tunnel release.
Brown
M G
MG
Hand Surgery Centers of Texas, Houston 77273.
Keyser
B
B
Rothenberg
E S
ES
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D014937:Work