title: [Release of the carpal tunnel by endoscopy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Review of the results of 67 endoscopic carpal tunnel releases and description of the surgical technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1994 and 96, 67 endoscopic carpal tunnel release have been performed on 49 patients with a mean age of 58 years. Our mean follow-up is 13 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  31 patients (65%) reported an excellent result, 14 patients (28.5%) reported an improvement of their symptoms and 3 patients (6.5%) no improvement at all. The mean time for return to work was 4.5 weeks and 40% return after 3 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic carpal tunnel release is effective in relieving symptoms and is associated with an early return to work and minimal palmar pain. The endoscopic release has advantages over open release but this technique has her own complications.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie orthopédique, Hôpital de La Chaux-de-Fonds.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Köstli
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019723:Endoscopes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D013525:Surgical Instruments