Carpal Tunel Syndrome and Neurosurgeon – Experience after 2,200 Surgeries

Czech version

Authors: Miroslav Vaverka
Authors‘ workplace: Neurochirurgická klinika, LF UP a FN Olomouc
Published in: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2012; 75/108(1): 44-50
Category: Original Paper

Overview

Objective:
The author’s experience with more than 2,200 open surgical releases of carpal tunnel syndrome with no serious complications are presented and compared with modern endoscopic methods.

Patients and methods:
Over 13 years, one surgeon had operated all patients using the same surgical technique. Patients from the last two years were followed-up prospectively, evaluating anatomical variants and all kinds of complications.

Results:
In 221 patients 299 surgeries were performed, 89 on the right side, 54 on the left and 78 on both hands (35.3%). Surprisingly positive results were also achieved in a subgroup of 87 seniors over 65 yrs. There was no injury to the median nerve or branches, postoperative hematoma or infection was not present. An important surgical variant was identified in 3 cases (1%), a minor anatomical change in 10%. Reoperation for scarring was needed in two cases (0.7%), with good final results. After 6 months, grip dysfunction and pillar syndrome were present in 1% of cases only, tendovaginitis of flexor pollicis longus was also treated in 1%.

Conclusion:
Open surgical approach – mini-open technique – still offers excellent results with minimal number of complications and minimal financial expenses.

Key words:
carpal tunnel syndrome – open surgery

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