title: Results of 1245 endoscopic carpal tunnel decompressions.
abstract: Between 1994 and 2000, the senior author performed 1245 endoscopic carpal tunnel decompressions. There were 291 bilateral cases. A telephone review was conducted of those patients who had not had an early excellent result, or conversion to an open procedure. Ninety-four per cent follow-up of patients in this group was achieved; 88% had an early excellent result with no subsequent problems. In 33 hands (3%) the carpal tunnel was opened, because of abnormal anatomy or poor view. A further 5% had a late excellent result. Seventeen hands (1%) have required subsequent open decompression, with adherence of the median nerve often found at revision surgery. Another 24 hands (2%) had a poor result. Fourteen hands (1%) had minor symptoms and 26 (2%) had another diagnosis of upper limb pathology. In contrast to other series, there was only one case of damage to an important structure - the radial digital nerve of the thumb.
authors.affiliation: Manus Orthopaedic, 1133 Hay Street, West Perth 6005, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McNally
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Hales
mesh_terms: D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000293:injuries; D016896:Treatment Outcome