Objective: To study the effect of surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) by endoscope through a transparent combined with dilation conductor to cut the transverse carpal ligament.
Methods: Between April 2003 and April 2008, 56 patients with CTS were treated with endoscopic carpal tunnel release through a transparent combined with dilation conductor. There were 8 males and 48 females with an average age of 50 years (range, 38-65 years). CTS was caused by wrist injury in 5 cases, by forearm fracture in 12 cases, and by wrist strain in 39 cases. The locations were left hand in 14 cases and right hand in 42 cases with a disease duration range of 2-7 years (4 years on average). According to Hamada classification of CTS, 38 cases were classified as stage I, 12 cases as stage II, and 6 cases as stage III.
Results: cases achieved the primary healing of incision. All patients were followed up 14-68 months (40 months on average). According to Kelly's evaluation, the results were excellent in 25 cases, good in 22 cases, fair in 4 cases, and poor in 5 cases with an excellent and good rate of 83.93%. The distal motor latency of median nerve was (4.48 +/- 0.50) ms at 1 months, (4.06 +/- 0.35) ms at 3 months, (3.79 +/- 0.25) ms at 6 months, and (3.42 +/- 0.24) ms at 12 months after operation, showing significant differences when compared with the preoperative one [(5.09 +/- 0.61) ms, P < 0.05]. There were significant differences among different time points after operation (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The method of endoscope through a transparent combined with dilation conductor to cut the transverse carpal ligament is a simple and effective surgical procedure for treatment of CTS, which can precisely cut the transverse carpal ligament and completely release the pressure of carpal tunnel.