title: Retrospective analysis of five-year and longer clinical and electrophysiological results of the world's first endoscopic management for carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: We have analyzed postoperative long-term follow-up results of five years or more from idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome patients that underwent our complete carpal canal release and decompression procedure that uses the Universal Subcutaneous Endoscope system. In this series, 203 hands were followed up both clinically and electrophysiologically. Final follow-up times were determined by the most recent electrophysiological measurements. Mean follow-up period was nine years. Tingling, pain (using a 3 gm needle) and touch (using a 2 gm von Frey hair) at all median nerve distribution areas recovered to normal in 92.9, 98.2, 95.2%, respectively. Abductor pollicis brevis muscle power improved from preoperative manual muscle testing of 0, 1, 2 to post-operative 4 or 5 in 82.6%. Mean detectable distal sensory latency improved from 4.3 (n = 130) to 3.1 msec (n = 200). Mean detectable distal motor latency improved from 6.2 (n = 189) to 4.1 msec (n = 200). Complication and recurrence rates were 0% and 0.5% respectively.
authors.affiliation: Okutsu Minimally Invasive Orthopaedic Clinic, Tokyo 106-0047, Japan.
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Okutsu
authors.forename: Ikki
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hamanaka
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome