title: Avoiding iatrogenic nerve injury in endoscopic carpal tunnel release.
abstract: In the hands of the inexperienced, endoscopic carpal tunnel release bears a substantial risk for neurovascular injury. For those thoroughly trained in this technique, it is a fast and elegant but also more expensive way to achieve carpal tunnel release. If performed uneventfully, it minimizes trauma and avoids a substantial palmar skin incision. The authors think that some basic considerations are useful to prevent complications. This article focuses on some points that are relevant to the safe use of this technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ulm/BKH Günzburg, Günzburg, Germany. thomas.kretschmer@uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kretschmer
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antoniadis
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Ralph W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: König
mesh_terms: D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D020423:Median Neuropathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012086:Reoperation