PURPOSE This study evaluated functional outcomes and safety after endoscopic and open bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome release in opposite hands of the same patients through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial data. MATERIALS AND METHODS Randomized controlled trials involving both methods in opposite hands of patients with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were identified via a syst...

BACKGROUND Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy in humans today. For patients in whom conservative treatment fails, surgical decompression is indicated. Among the various surgical techniques currently in use, endoscopic techniques are becoming increasingly popular. Due to the rapid postoperative recovery shown after endoscopic operations, midpalmar accurate incision f...

Legend: O-CTR= open carpal tunnel release, E-CTR= endoscopic carpal tunnel release, CSA= cross sectional area, MN-UA: distance between the median nerve and ulnar neurovascular bundle, US= ultrasound, SD=standard deviation, p values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant and are highlighted with bold. Table 1. Overview of the data from the preoperative ultrasound evaluation of the p...

The advantages and disadvantages of endoscopic compared with open carpal tunnel release are controversial. We have performed a prospective, randomised, blinded assessment in a district general hospital in order to determine if there was any demonstrable advantage in undertaking either technique. Twenty-five patients with confirmed bilateral idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome were randomised to u...