Endoscopic release for carpal tunnel syndrome accompanied by thenar muscle atrophy.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to ascertain whether endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) is indicated for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome accompanied by thenar muscle atrophy.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Two-portal ECTR was performed on 67 hands in 52 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome accompanied by thenar muscle atrophy.


RESULTS
Preoperative severity of thenar muscle atrophy was severe in 24 hands, moderate in 23 hands, and mild in 20 hands. Postoperative severity of thenar muscle atrophy was severe in 6 hands, moderate in 2 hands, mild in 23 hands, and none in 36 hands.


CONCLUSIONS
Improvements with thenar muscle function in most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome can be expected with 2-portal ECTR.


METHODS
Level IV.
Orthopaedic Department, Surugadai Nihon University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Masahiro
M
Nagaoka
Sohya
S
Nagao
Hiromi
H
Matsuzaki
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery*; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies