title: Effectiveness and safety of endoscopic versus open carpal tunnel decompression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) and open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) using a meta-analysis of data from randomized controlled trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic searches of the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, Issue 11 of 12, Nov 2012), PUBMED (1980 to Dec 2012), and EMBASE (1980 to Dec 2012) were used to identify randomized controlled trials that evaluated endoscopic vs open methods for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Studies to be used were independently identified by two researchers. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen randomized controlled trials involving 1,596 hands were included. Based on the Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias, four studies were rated as high quality, five studies were rated as moderate quality, and six were rated as low quality. Our meta-analysis indicated that ECTR resulted in better recovery of pinch strength, earlier time of return to work, but a higher rate of reversible nerve problems (including neurapraxia and numbness) than OCTR. ECTR also resulted in a lower rate of irreversible nerve damage (P > 0.05), wound problems (including wound infection, wound hematoma and wound dehiscence) and reflex sympathetic dystrophy (P > 0.05) compared with OCTR. Our meta-analysis revealed no obvious statistical differences in relief of symptoms (pain and paraesthesia), recovery of grip strength and reoperation rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials demonstrated that ECTR and OCTR were similar in relief of symptoms, but ECTR resulted in better recovery of function and earlier return to work and was safer than OCTR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Xiang, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jingtong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiang
mesh_terms: D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome