Carpal tunnel release: using a short vertical incision above the flexor crease of the wrist.
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.
Dayican
Avni
A
Clinics of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Cankaya/Ankara, Turkey. avnidayican@yahoo.com
Unal
Vuslat Sema
VS
Portakal
Suleyman
S
Utkan
Ali
A
Tumoz
Mehmet Ali
MA
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