title: Carpal tunnel release: transverse or longitudinal limited-incisions?
abstract: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremity. Surgical decompression through a limited open palmar incision is still the most widely used treatment. The aim of this study was to compare two different incision surgical techniques for carpal tunnel surgery.
  
  
  
  In this retrospective study, 41 patient hands (transverse surgery) were compared with 55 controls (longitudinal surgery) using, as validated outcome instruments, the "Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire" for postoperative effectiveness to measure symptoms, disability and health-related quality of life. The patients were monitored just before the CTS surgery and then 4 weeks and 3 months after surgery.
  
  
  
  Complications resulted few and comparable for both techniques. Results showed similar outcomes in both procedures regarding symptoms release and function, except for one month results where function was better for the transverse incision (p<0.01) which required reduced time, anyway.
  
  
  
  The transverse incision technique proved a suitable optimal solution for carpal tunnel release. This technique, therefore, induces to a better tolerated scar at short term follow up, compared to a standard palmar longitudinal incision.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthopedics and Trauma, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babe", Timişoara, Romania.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prejbeanu
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthopedics and Trauma, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babe", Timişoara, Romania.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vermesan
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babe", Timişoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Crainiceanu
authors.affiliation: Emergency Clinical Hospital for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burns, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nitescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy,'Victor Babe' Timişoara, Romania.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lazureanu
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthopedics and Trauma, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babe", Timişoara, Romania.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Florescu
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthopedics and Trauma, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babe", Timişoara, Romania.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balanescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Medical School, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Inchingolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Medical School, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ballini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Medical School, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cagiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Medical School, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caprio
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Medical School, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Potenza
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Medical School, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbinante
authors.affiliation: Department of Interdisciplinary Medicine, Medical School, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dipalma
authors.affiliation: Departments of Orthopedics and Trauma, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babe", Timişoara, Romania.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haragus
mesh_terms: D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Carpal tunnel release; Longitudinal incision; Transverse incision; Treatment costs; car outcome