title: Endoscopic carpal tunnel release: a prospective analysis of factors associated with unsatisfactory results.
abstract: The first 100 consecutive cases of endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) performed by the author were studied prospectively during 6 to 24 months follow-up. Various preoperative and postoperative factors were subjected to statistical analysis to determine possible associations with unsatisfactory results. Overall, 92% of hands had a satisfactory result from ECTR, although not all were rendered symptom-free. There were no significant complications. Preoperative factors associated with an increased likelihood of unsatisfactory results included hands with preoperative weakness, widened two-point discrimination, myofascial pain syndrome or fibromyalgia, involvement in litigation, multiple compressive neuropathies, or the presence of abnormal psychological factors. A trend to less satisfactory results was present in Workers' Compensation cases and patients with normal motor latencies on nerve conduction studies. Multiple postoperative factors correlated with unsatisfactory results.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Healthcare Northwest, Springfield, Oregon 97477, USA.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Straub
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012307:Risk Factors