The mini-incision technique for carpal tunnel release using nasal instruments in Chinese patients

The Influence of Wound Closure Techniques after Surgical Decompression in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on Sleep Disturbance and Life Quality: A Prospective Comparison of Surgical Techniques

BACKGROUND

The compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel is the cause of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Surgical decompression is successful in improving sleep and quality of life, but the effect of tissue adhesives as a material for wound closure has not been investigated. The objective of the study was to evaluate sleep disorders and health-related life quality by comparing two methods for wound closure after carpal surgery in participants who were randomized to receive tissue adhesives or transcutaneous sutures.

METHODS

The subjects, aged 61.56 ± 12.03 years, were randomized to receive either tissue adhesives (n = 50) or suture-based wound closure (n = 50) using the Glubran Tiss 2® skin adhesive after subcutaneous running sutures. The outcomes were assessed during the 12-month postoperative follow-up. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PQSI) and Insomnia Severity Scale (ISI) were used for the sleep disturbance assessment, and for the health-related quality of life assessment, the total SF-36 (36-Item Short Form Survey) was used.

RESULTS

The PQSI, ISI, and SF-36 were not statistically different between groups during the follow-up, except in the ISI score two weeks after surgery (9.40 ± 1.18 in the tissue adhesive group vs. 9.96 ± 1.09 in the suture-based group, p = 0.008). The PQSI, ISI, and SF-36 scores for all the subjects and groups were persistently improved at all the follow-up intervals after surgery. The total SF-36 score increased 12 months after surgery (49.84 ± 5.85 vs. 82.46 ± 5.68, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Cyanoacrylate-based adhesion material can be used for wound closure after open CTS decompression as a standard transcutaneous suture, and both techniques equally lead to improved sleep and life quality. The possible advantages of tissue adhesives include a faster reduction in the ISI.

Best-Evidence Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Mini-Open Carpal Tunnel Release

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of mini-open carpal tunnel release (mOCTR) using best-evidence synthesis methods.

Methods

We systematically searched for prospective studies published from January 2013 to July 2023 that reported outcomes from a minimum of 50 mOCTR cases. The outcomes included Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptom Severity Scale (BCTQ-SSS) and Functional Status Scale (BCTQ-FSS), pain visual analog scale (VAS), complication rate, and reoperation rate. Data analysis was performed using a random-effects meta-analysis, with metaregression to identify the associations between patient- and study-level factors with surgical outcomes.

Results

The meta-analysis included 23 studies with 2,303 patients followed for median durations ranging from 6 to 12 months depending on the outcome. Mini-open carpal tunnel release resulted in statistically significant and clinically important improvements in Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (mean difference = -25.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -36.4 to -14.5; P < .001), BCTQ-SSS (mean difference = -2.2; 95% CI: -2.5 to -1.9; P < .001), BCTQ-FSS (mean difference = -2.1; 95% CI: -2.4 to -1.7; P < .001), and pain VAS (mean difference = -5.1; 95% CI: -6.2 to -4.1; P < .001). The sole predictor of improvement in BCTQ-SSS, BCTQ-FSS, and pain VAS was a higher preoperative score for the respective variable (all P < .001). The risk of complications (mainly short-term pillar pain or scar complications) was 8.9% (95% CI: 4.0%-13.8%) and increased with longer incision lengths (P = .008). Revision carpal tunnel release was performed in 0.6% (95% CI: 0.1%-1.0%) of the cases during follow-up. No cases of median nerve transection were reported.

Conclusions

Based on a best-evidence meta-analysis of contemporary studies, mOCTR significantly improved function and pain, with a relatively low risk of mainly temporary complications. Patient outcomes after mOCTR were influenced by patient symptomatology and surgical incision length.

Clinical relevance

Mini-open carpal tunnel release is an effective surgical option that significantly improves symptoms and function, especially for patients with more severe baseline dysfunction. Surgeons should use the shortest incision that allows adequate visualization to safely divide the transverse carpal ligament.

Presentation and outcome of carpal tunnel syndrome with mini incision open carpal tunnel release

Background: To document the clinical presentation of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and evaluate the outcome of mini-incision open carpal tunnel release in terms of surgical complications, relief/persistence of symptoms at 4 months, and recurrence at 1 year. Methods: This prospective case series included patients of all genders and ages who presented with CTS. They underwent release of transverse carpal ligament (TCL) under local anesthesia and tourniquet control on day care basis. Mini-incision of 2 cm to 2.5 cm was employed. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 21 (SPSS Inc). The percentages of key categorical variables were compared by employing the chi square test, and a P value of less than.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: There were 67 patients with 77 CTS affected wrists. A Significant majority of the patients (n = 54; 80.59%) were females, whereas 13 (19.40%) patients were males. The age range was 26 to 69 years, with a mean age of 41.01 ± 11.70 years. The CTS was found to be moderate among 34 (44.15%) and severe among 43 (55.84%) patients. The majority of patients had no operative complications. At 4 months follow-up, the majority of patients (n = 74; 96.10%) reported symptomatic relief, whereas 3 (3.89%) patients continued to have persistent severe symptoms. All the cases with persistent symptoms had diabetes mellitus of more than 5 years duration. There was no case of recurrence at one year follow-up. Conclusion: CTS predominantly affected women aged 30 to 45 years. The open carpal tunnel release with mini-incision yielded good results in terms of relieving symptoms among the majority of patients and was associated with no critical complications or recurrence at 1 year.

Sonographic follow-up after endoscopic carpal tunnel release for severe carpal tunnel syndrome: a one-year neuroanatomical prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) has been gradually adopted for the treatment of severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). However, perioperative assessment of neuroanatomical parameters of median nerve, which are important determinant of median nerve recovery, has rarely been reported. This one-year prospective study aimed to investigate the natural history of the neuroanatomical morphology of the median nerve after ECTR in severe CTS patients by high-frequency ultrasonography and assess the ability of neuroanatomical measures to quantify morphological recovery of the median nerve after ECTR.

METHODS

This study recruited 31 patients (44 wrists) with a definitive diagnosis of severe CTS and underwent ECTR operation. The edema length (EL) of median nerve from the inlet of the carpal tunnel to the proximal wrist was detected on long axis imaging plane and the anteroposterior diameter (D) and cross-sectional area (CSA) at the inlet of the carpal tunnel on short axis imaging plane were detected by high frequency ultrasound. All these metrics were detected at 3 days before surgery and at the 2nd week, 4th week, 3rd month, 6th month and 12th month after surgery separately.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference of each parameter between the 2-week postoperative (1.914 ± 0.598 cm in EL, 0.258 ± 0.039 cm in D and 0.138 ± 0.015 cm2 in CSA) and 3-days preoperative time points (P-EL =0.250; P-D = 0.125; P-CSA =0.712). From the fourth week to the third month after surgery, the parameters quickly improved. The EL (0.715 ± 0.209 cm), D (0.225 ± 0.017 cm) and CSA (0.117 ± 0.012 cm2) at the 3- month postoperative time points were more reduced than at the fourth week after surgery (P-EL < 0.001; P-D = 0.038; P-CSA =0.014). Thereafter, the neurological anatomy parameters recovered slowly. By the 12-month postoperative time points, the three parameters were neuroanatomically close to normal. Compared to the control group in D (0.213 ± 0.005 cm), there was no difference at the 12-month time point (0.214 ± 0.009 cm, P = 0.939). However, the difference in EL (0.098 ± 0.030 cm vs. 0.016 ± 0.011 cm) and CSA (0.103 ± 0.008 cm2 vs. 0.073 ± 0.005 cm2) between patients and healthy volunteers at the 12-month time point still existed (P-EL < 0.001; P-CSA < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Neuroanatomical parameters were gradually improved after ECTR surgery. The best time for US follow up is at 3-month postoperative time point for patients who do not show clinical improvement, since at this time the change is the greatest for most CTS patients. This study has been registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-ROC-17014068 (retrospectively registered 20-12-2017).