title: Endoscopic carpal tunnel release.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Hand Surgery Centers of Texas, Houston 77273.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keyser
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Rothenberg
mesh_terms: 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