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


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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Labels
Paediatric neurology Neurosurgery Neurology

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Czech and Slovak Neurology and Neurosurgery

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2012 Issue 1

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