title: Carpal tunnel release: using a short vertical incision above the flexor crease of the wrist.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous surgical incision techniques have been used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. The advantages and disadvantages of each are a matter of debate. However, the technique should be cost effective and also decrease the amount of time needed before the patient can return to work. A minimally invasive surgical procedure for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is described in this report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (106 wrists) were operated on through a 2 cm vertical incision, above the flexor crease of the wrist, under local infiltration anesthesia, without tourniquet control. The mean time length of the operation was nine minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Numbness and night pain disappeared in all cases postoperatively. The mean time period to return to work and full activity was 18 (12-26) days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreasing the time needed before the patient can return to work, minimizing the rate of complications and reducing hospital costs are advantages of this technique.
authors.affiliation: Clinics of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Cankaya/Ankara, Turkey. avnidayican@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Avni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dayican
authors.forename: Vuslat Sema
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Portakal
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Utkan
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tumoz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020423:Median Neuropathy / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome