title: Supraretinacular endoscopic carpal tunnel release: surgical technique with prospective case series.
abstract: Current techniques for endoscopic carpal tunnel release use an infraretinacular approach, inserting the endoscope deep to the flexor retinaculum. We present a supraretinacular endoscopic carpal tunnel release technique in which a dissecting endoscope is inserted superficial to the flexor retinaculum, which improves vision and the ability to dissect and manipulate the median nerve and tendons during surgery. The motor branch of the median nerve and connections between the median and ulnar nerve can be identified and dissected. Because the endoscope is inserted superficial to the flexor retinaculum, the median nerve is not compressed before division of the retinaculum and, as a result, we have observed no cases of the transient median nerve deficits that have been reported using infraretinacular endoscopic techniques.
authors.affiliation: Western Orthopaedic Clinic, SJOG Health Care, Subiaco, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ecker
authors.affiliation: Hand and Upper Limb Centre, Subiaco, Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.affiliation: School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, Australia jay.ebert@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ebert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D004210:Dissection; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Supraretinacular endoscopic carpal tunnel release