title: Usefulness and complications associated with thenar and standard portals during arthroscopic surgery of thumb carpometacarpal joint.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Advances in small arthroscopy have enabled a minimally invasive surgery for thumb carpometacarpal joints. However, surgery is often difficult using standard CM-radial (CM-R) and CM-ulnar portals (CM-U). Here, we describe the clinical applications and complications associated with using thenar portal (TP) and standard portals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Arthroscopic surgeries of thumb carpometacarpal joint were performed in 21 patients including 15 patients with osteoarthritis and six Bennett's fracture-dislocations. Complications and the frequency of use associated with each portal were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complications associated with the CM-R portal comprised paresthesia due to damage of the radial nerve branches in two patients. No nerves were damaged but the operation scar became tender at the TP in three patients. The CM-R was used at a lower frequency when the TP was utilized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical use of TP may decrease the risk of radial sensory nerve damage through decreasing frequency of use of the CM-R that is located near the nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, 2-174 Edobashi, 514-8507 Tsu City, Japan. Electronic address: m-t727@clin.medic.mie-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsujii
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagai Hospital, Nagai, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iida
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, 2-174 Edobashi, 514-8507 Tsu City, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satonaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, 2-174 Edobashi, 514-8507 Tsu City, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sudo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D052737:Carpometacarpal Joints / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013933:Thumb / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arthroscopy; Nerve injury; Thenar portal; Thumb carpometacarpal joint