Objective To review the progress in the treatment method of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods Recent l iterature concerning the treatment method of CTS was extensively reviewed, analyzed, and summarized. Results Wrist spl inting and local steroid injection are effective in patients with mild to moderate CTS in the short-term. however, patients with recurrent CTS have to accept surgical treatment. The main operative patterns include open carpal tunnel release (OCTR), mini-OCTR, and endoscopic carpal tunnel release. Conclusion The final conclusion of the most effective method to treat CTS needs more cl inical researches, and surgical treatment is one method recommended by some scholars.
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 l igament. 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 bywrist 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 All cases achieved the primary heal ing 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 lt; 0.05]. There were significant differences among different time points after operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The method of endoscope through a transparent combined with dilation conductor to cut the transverse carpal l igament is a simple and effective surgical procedure for treament of CTS, which can precisely cut the transverse carpal l igament and completely release the pressure of carpal tunnel.