Hypothenar fat pad flap surgery for end stage and recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome

Management of Recurrent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

Few comparisons have been performed between the outcomes of surgical techniques for recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome. Using a meta-analysis, this study aimed to compare the outcomes of different surgical techniques using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain as outcomes.

METHODS

The following categories were used to define the study's inclusion criteria: population, intervention, comparator, outcomes, and study design. Studies were examined by 2 reviewers, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. The studies were assigned to 1 of the following treatment groups: decompression with or without neurolysis, autologous fat transfer, hypothenar fat pad, pedicled or free flap, and "other." For our primary outcome, we compared improvement using the BCTQ and VAS for pain between the treatment groups. For our secondary outcome, postoperative BCTQ and VAS pain values were compared.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies were included: 5 case series with postoperative data only and 9 pre-post studies without a control group. With regard to our primary outcome, the studies reported an average improvement of 1.2 points (95% confidence interval [CI][1.5, 0.9]) on a scale of 1-5 on the symptoms severity scale (SSS) of the BCTQ, 1.9 points (95% CI [1.37, 0.79]) on a scale of 1-5 on the function severity scale of the BCTQ, and 3.8 points (95% CI [4.9, 2.6]) on a scale of 1-10 on the VAS for pain. We only found significantly lesser improvement in the "other" treatment group than in the hypothenar fat pad group and autologous fat transfer group using the SSS. The hypothenar fat pad group had the best reported postoperative SSS score of 1.75 (95% CI [1.24, 2.25]), function severity scale score of 1.55 (95% CI [1.20, 1.90]), and VAS pain score of 1.45 (95% CI [0.83, 2.07]).

CONCLUSIONS

All the techniques showed clinically important improvements in all the outcomes. We found lesser improvement in the "other" treatment group than in the hypothenar fat pad group and autologous fat transfer group using the SSS. We found that the hypothenar fat pad group had the best reported postoperative values in our secondary analysis.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic IV.

A Detailed Comparison of Preoperative Complaints in Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome versus Recurrent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire

Background: The Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) has a symptom severity scale (SSS) with 11 questions and a functional status scale (FSS) with 8 questions. The final score for each scale is the sum divided by the number of questions and ranges between 1 and 5. A score of 1 indicates they have no complaints and 5 indicates high severity and functional loss. Unfortunately, this single digit score does not permit a detailed analysis of the symptoms and functional status. The aim of this study is to conduct an in-depth comparison of preoperative complaints using the BCTQ between patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome (SCTS) and recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome (RCTS). Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study on the preoperative status of 37 patients with SCTS and 18 patients with RCTS using the BCTQ. The questions in the SSS and FSS were classified into four groups based on the responses of patients, namely a low complaint (LC) (1-1.99), moderate complaint (MC) (2-2.99), high complaint (HC) (3-3.99), and severe complaint (SC) (4-5) groups. The patients in the SCTS and RCTS groups were compared to find differences in age, gender, hand dominance, and responses to questions in the SSS and FSS. Results: The age of patients in the SCTS group (76.06 years) was significantly higher compared to the RCTS group (51.11 years). There was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to gender or hand dominance. The top question with SC or HC response in the SCTS group was problems in grasping small objects (SSS) and fastening buttons (FSS) and in the RCTS group was tingling in the hand (SSS) and difficulty with opening a jar (FSS). Conclusions: An in-depth analysis of the BCTQ allowed us to compare and understand differences in symptoms and function between patients with SCTS and RCTS. Level of Evidence: Level III (Therapeutic).

Does Recurrence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) after Complete Division of the Transverse Ligament Really Exist?

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) after complete and sufficient division of the transverse ligament really exists. Another goal was to analyze the underlying reasons for recurrent CTS operated on in our department. Over an observation period of eleven years, 156 patients underwent surgical intervention due to CTS. The records of each patient were analyzed with respect to baseline data (age, gender, affected hand), as were clinical signs and symptoms pre- and postoperatively. To assess long-term results, standardized telephone interviews were performed using a structured questionnaire in which the patients were questioned about persisting symptoms, if any. Of the 156 patients, 128 underwent first surgical intervention due to CTS in our department. In long-term follow-up, two-thirds of these patients had no symptoms at all; one-third of the patients described mild persisting numbness. None of the patients experienced a recurrence of CTS. The 28 patients who received their first operation outside of our department were operated on for recurrent CTS. The cause of recurrence was incomplete division of the distal part of the transverse carpal ligament in all cases. The results suggest that recurrent CTS after complete and sufficient division of the transverse ligament is very unlikely.

Persisting Complaints after Carpal Tunnel Release: Nerve Compression by the Palmaris Profundus Muscle

We present the case of a 66-year-old man who had persisting complaints after initial classical open carpal tunnel release. During revision a reversed palmaris profundus muscle was identified as being the cause of residual compression of the median nerve. Neurolysis with release of the palmaris profundus muscle was performed without resection of this anatomical variant and resulted in full resolution of the complaints.

Absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures for skin closure after carpal tunnel decompression surgery

BACKGROUND

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common problem and surgical decompression of the carpal tunnel is the most effective treatment. After surgical decompression, the palmar skin may be closed using either absorbable or non-absorbable sutures. To date, there is conflicting evidence regarding the ideal suture material and this formed the rationale for our review.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures for skin closure after elective carpal tunnel decompression surgery in adults on postoperative pain, hand function, scar satisfaction, wound inflammation and adverse events.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following databases on 30 October 2017: the Cochrane Neuromuscular Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase. We searched two clinical trials registries on 30 October 2017.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We considered all randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing absorbable and non-absorbable sutures for skin closure after any form of carpal tunnel decompression surgery in adults.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

The unit of analysis was the hand rather than the patient. We performed meta-analysis of direct comparisons to generate standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in pain scores and risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs for dichotomous outcomes, such as wound inflammation. The primary outcome was postoperative pain. Secondary outcomes included hand function, scar satisfaction, scar inflammation and adverse events (complications). We assessed the quality of evidence for key outcomes using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

We included five randomised trials (255 participants). The trials were all European (UK, Republic of Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands). Where quoted, the mean age of participants was between 48 and 53 years. The trials measured outcomes between one and 12 weeks postoperatively.Meta-analysis of postoperative pain scores for absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures at 10 days following open carpal tunnel decompression (OCTD) produced a SMD of 0.03 (95% CI -0.43 to 0.48; 3 studies, number of participants (N) = 137; I² = 43%); the SMD suggests little or no difference, but with a high degree of uncertainty because of very low-quality evidence. At 10 days following endoscopic carpal tunnel decompression (ECTD), the SMD for postoperative pain with use of absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures was -0.81 (95% CI -1.36 to -0.25; 1 study; N = 54); although the SMD is consistent with a large effect, the very low-quality evidence means the results are very uncertain. Only the OCTD studies provided pain data at 6 weeks, when the SMD was 0.06 (95% CI -0.72 to 0.84; 4 studies; N = 175; I² = 84%), which indicates little or no evidence of difference, but with a high degree of uncertainty (very low-quality evidence). The RR for wound inflammation using absorbable versus non-absorbable sutures after OCTD was 2.28 (95% CI 0.24 to 21.91; N = 95; I² = 90%) and after ECTD 0.93 (95% CI 0.06 to 14.09; 1 study, N = 54). Any difference in effect on wound inflammation is uncertain because the quality of evidence is very low. One study reported postoperative hand function but found no evidence of a difference between suture types at two weeks (mean difference (MD) -0.10, 95% CI -0.53 to 0.33, N = 36), with similar findings at six and 12 weeks. Only the ECTD trial reported scar satisfaction, with 25 out of 28 people reporting a 'nice' result in the absorbable-suture group, versus 18 out of 26 in the group who received non-absorbable sutures (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.72, N = 54). These findings are also very uncertain as we judged the quality of the evidence to be very low. All studies were at high risk of bias for most domains. No trials reported adverse events.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

It is uncertain whether absorbable sutures confer better, worse or equivalent outcomes compared to non-absorbable sutures following carpal tunnel decompression, because the quality of evidence is very low. Use of absorbable suture eliminates the need for suture removal, which could confer considerable savings to patients and healthcare providers alike. We need rigorously-performed, non-inferiority randomised trials with economic analyses to inform choice of suture.