title: Endoscopic versus open surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: The impact of CTS is significant as evidenced by the fact that only back injuries result in greater rates of employee absenteeism in the workplace. CTR is now the most commonly performed surgical procedure in the United States. Earlier efforts using open surgical techniques were associated with significant morbidity, which some would argue is greater than that associated with the disease itself. The addition of endoscopy to surgeon's armamentarium offers the promise of decreased morbidity associated with the surgical treatment of CTS. Evidence indicates that when compared with open CTR, endoscopic CTR results in earlier achievement of patient satisfaction and functional outcomes. As a result, it is becoming clear that endoscopic surgery is a safe and effective method of treating CTS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle 98195, USA. trumble@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Trumble
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: W V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: McCallister
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D014953:Wrist / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery