title: Comparison of postoperative pain after open and endoscopic carpal tunnel release: A randomized controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Results of open and endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery were compared with many studies done previously. To the best of our knowledge, difference in pain after endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) and open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) has not been objectively documented in literature. The aim of the study was to compare the pain intensity in the early postoperative period in patients undergoing OCTR versus those undergoing ECTR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome were randomized into two groups using "random number generator" software (Research Randomizer, version 3.0); endoscopic surgery group [(21 female, 1 male; mean age 49 years (range 31-64 years)] and open surgery group [(25 female, 3 male; mean age 45.1 years (range 29-68 years)] and received carpal tunnel release. Surgery was performed under regional intravenous anesthesia. The patients' pain level was assessed at the 1(st), 2(nd), 4(th), and 24(th) postoperative hours using a visual analog scale (VAS) score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age, gender and duration of symptoms were found similar for both groups. Boston functional scores were improved for both groups (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Pain assessment at the postoperative 1(st), 2(nd), 4(th) and 24(th) hours revealed significantly low VAS scores in the endoscopic surgery group (P = 0.003, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Need for analgesic medication was significantly lower in the endoscopic surgery group (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery is an effective treatment method in carpal tunnel release vis-a-vis postoperative pain relief.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Müfit
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Orak
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Adıyaman University, Adıyaman Education and Research Hospital, Adiyaman, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seyit Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gümüştaş
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Marmara University Pendik Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Onay
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, American Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uludağ
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Kartal Lütfi Kırdar Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Güven
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bulut
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kartal Lütfi Kırdar Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ülkü Türk
authors.initials: ÜT
authors.lastname: Börü
keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; carpus; endoscopic; endoscopic surgery; endoscopy; open surgery; postoperative care; postoperative pain; surgical procedures; wrist; wrist joint