Endoscopic carpal tunnel release: a cadaveric study.
Five surgeons performed endoscopic (Dyonics) carpal tunnel releases on 24 fresh cadaver wrists. In 50% of the specimens, transection of the transverse carpal ligament was incomplete. The average amount of incomplete release was 31% (range, 0% to 53%). Three types of incomplete release were noted: (1) release of Guyon's canal release--one, (2) incomplete distal ligament release--five, and (3) incomplete central or superficial release--six. Other technical errors were noted in nine of 24 specimens. There were no nerve lacerations. Endoscopic carpal tunnel release is either a technically demanding procedure, commonly results in incompletely released ligaments, or both. Proper training, followed by practice on several cadaver specimens before its clinical use, is recommended.
Lee
D H
DH
Division of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35233.
Masear
V R
VR
Meyer
R D
RD
Stevens
D M
DM
Colgin
S
S
D000886:Anthropometry; D002102:Cadaver; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004210:Dissection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans