An Intraindividual Comparison of Open versus Paine Retinaculotome Release for Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

The main purpose of this research was to do an intraindividual comparison of outcomes between the open ulnar incision (OUI) and the Paine retinaculotome with palmar incision (PRWPI) techniques in patients with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The patients underwent OUI surgery on one hand and PRWPI surgery on the contralateral hand. The patients were evaluated with the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire, visual analogue scale for pain, palmar grip strength, and fingertip, key, and tripod pinch strengths. Both hands were examined in the preoperative and postoperative periods after 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 and 6 months. Eighteen patients (36 hands) were evaluated. The symptoms severity scale (SSS) scores were higher, in the preoperative period, in the hands that underwent surgery with PRWPI ( p -value = 0,023), but lower in the 3rd month postoperative ( p -value = 0.030). The functional status scale (FSS) scores were lower in the periods of 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months ( p -value = 0,016) on the hands that underwent surgery with PRWPI. In a different two-group module study, the PRWPI group presents the SSS scores average on the 2nd week and 1st month, and the FSS scores average on the 2nd week, less 0.8 and 1.2 points respectively comported to open group. The hands that underwent surgery with PRWPI presented significantly lower SSS scores at 3 months postoperative, and lower FSS scores at 2 weeks, and 3 and 6 months postoperative, compared to open surgery group.

An Intraindividual Comparison of Open versus Paine Retinaculotome Release for Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Comparação intraindividual dos resultados da liberação aberta ou com retinaculótomo de Paine na síndrome do túnel do carpo bilateral

Abstract The main purpose of this research was to do an intraindividual comparison of outcomes between the open ulnar incision (OUI) and the Paine retinaculotome with palmar incision (PRWPI) techniques in patients with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The patients underwent OUI surgery on one hand and PRWPI surgery on the contralateral hand. The patients were evaluated with the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire, visual analogue scale for pain, palmar grip strength, and fingertip, key, and tripod pinch strengths. Both hands were examined in the preoperative and postoperative periods after 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 and 6 months. Eighteen patients (36 hands) were evaluated. The symptoms severity scale (SSS) scores were higher, in the preoperative period, in the hands that underwent surgery with PRWPI (p-value =0,023), but lower in the 3rd month postoperative (p-value = 0.030). The functional status scale (FSS) scores were lower in the periods of 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months (p-value = 0,016) on the hands that underwent surgery with PRWPI. In a different two-group module study, the PRWPI group presents the SSS scores average on the 2nd week and 1st month, and the FSS scores average on the 2nd week, less 0.8 and 1.2 points respectively comported to open group. The hands that underwent surgery with PRWPI presented significantly lower SSS scores at 3 months postoperative, and lower FSS scores at 2 weeks, and 3 and 6 months postoperative, compared to open surgery group.

Resumo O principal objetivo desta pesquisa foi fazer uma comparação intraindividual dos resultados entre as técnicas de incisão ulnar aberta e retinaculótomo de Paine com incisão palmar em pacientes com síndrome do túnel do carpo (STC) bilateral. Os pacientes foram submetidos à cirurgia aberta em uma mão e cirurgia com retinaculótomo de Paine na mão contralateral. Os pacientes foram avaliados com o Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire, escala visual analógica para dor e força de preensão palmar, pinça lateral, pinça polpa-polpa e trípode. As duas mãos foram examinadas antes da cirurgia e 2 semanas, 1 mês, 3 e 6 meses após a cirurgia. Dezoito pacientes (36 mãos) foram avaliados. As pontuações da escala de gravidade dos sintomas (EGS) foram maiores no pré-operatório nas mãos submetidas à cirurgia com retinaculótomo de Paine (p = 0,023), mas menores no 3° mês após o procedimento (p = 0,030). As pontuações da escala de estado funcional (EEF) foram menores às 2 semanas, 3 meses e 6 meses (p = 0,016) nas mãos submetidas à cirurgia com retinaculótomo de Paine. Em um estudo de módulo de diferença de dois grupos, o grupo submetido à cirurgia com retinaculótomo de Paine apresentou pontuações médias de EGS na 2ª semana e 1° mês e de EEF na segunda semana inferiores a 0,8 e 1,2 pontos, respectivamente, em comparação ao grupo submetido ao procedimento aberto. As mãos submetidas à cirurgia com retinaculótomo de Paine apresentaram escores significativamente menores de EGS em 3 meses e de EEF em 2 semanas, e aos 3 e 6 meses após a cirurgia em comparação a técnica aberta.

Failure factors for carpal tunnel syndrome surgical treatment: When and how to perform a revision carpal tunnel decompression surgery.

Despite being a procedure widely used all over the world with high rates of symptom remission, surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome may present unsatisfactory outcomes. Such outcomes may be manifested clinically by non-remission of symptoms, remission of symptoms with recurrence a time after surgery or appearance of different symptoms after surgery. Different factors are related to this unsuccessful surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Prevention can be achieved through a thorough preoperative clinical evaluation of the patient. As such, the surgeon will be able to make differential or concomitant diagnoses, as well as determine factors related to patient dissatisfaction. Perioperative factors include the correct identification of anatomical structures for complete median nerve decompression. Numerous procedures have been described for managing postoperative factors. Among them, the most common is adhesion around the median nerve, which has been treated with relative success using different vascularized flaps or autologous or homologous tissue coverage. The approach to cases with unsuccessful surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is discussed in more detail in the text.

Failure factors for carpal tunnel syndrome surgical treatment: When and how to perform a revision carpal tunnel decompression surgery / Fatores de insucesso do tratamento cirúrgico da síndrome do túnel do carpo: Quando e como revisar a cirurgia de descompressão do túnel do carpo

Abstract Despite being a procedure widely used all over the world with high rates of symptom remission, surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome may present unsatisfactory outcomes. Such outcomes may be manifested clinically by non-remission of symptoms, remission of symptoms with recurrence a time after surgery or appearance of different symptoms after surgery. Different factors are related to this unsuccessful surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Prevention can be achieved through a thorough preoperative clinical evaluation of the patient. As such, the surgeon will be able to make differential or concomitant diagnoses, as well as determine factors related to patient dissatisfaction. Perioperative factors include the correct identification of anatomical structures for complete median nerve decompression. Numerous procedures have been described for managing postoperative factors. Among them, the most common is adhesion around the median nerve, which has been treated with relative success using different vascularized flaps or autologous or homologous tissue coverage. The approach to cases with unsuccessful surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is discussed in more detail in the text.

Resumo Apesar de ser um procedimento amplamente utilizado em todo o mundo e com elevadas taxas de remissão dos sintomas, o tratamento cirúrgico da síndrome do túnel do carpo pode apresentar resultados não satisfatórios ao paciente. Esse resultado não satisfatório pode se manifestar clinicamente pela não remissão dos sintomas, remissão dos sintomas mas recorrência desses após um período de tempo da cirurgia ou aparecimento de diferentes sintomas após a cirurgia. Diferentes fatores estão relacionados a esse insucesso do tratamento cirúrgico da síndrome do túnel do carpo (ITCSTC). A prevenção pode ser conseguida por meio de minuciosa avaliação clínica do paciente no período pré-operatório. Dessa forma o cirurgião poderá fazer diagnósticos diferenciais ou diagnósticos concomitantes, assim como identificar fatores ligados a insatisfação do paciente. Os fatores per-operatórios incluem a correta identificação das estruturas anatômicas para completa descompressão do nervo mediano. Inúmeros procedimentos têm sido descritos para o tratamento dos fatores que ocorrem no período pós-operatório. Desses o mais comum, a formação de aderências em torno do nervo mediano, tem sido tratado com relativo sucesso utilizando diferentes retalhos vascularizados ou cobertura com o uso de tecido autólogo ou homólogo. Descreveremos a abordagem do ITCSTC com maiores detalhes no texto.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment. One of the most devastating complications is complex regional pain syndrome. Objectivities: The aim of this study was to systematically analyze available evidence about complex regional pain syndrome after carpal tunnel syndrome surgery (CTSS), its risks, associated factors, and treatments. Material and Methods: Research conducted from 1962 through December 31, 2018, in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The quality assessment of the methodology followed the definitions by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 Levels of Evidence. The GRADE system (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) was applied to evaluate the efficacy of the stellate ganglion block, one of the most cited and recurrent treatments. Results: Of the 246 studies retrieved, 44 articles were included. Concerning patients' gender, we identified a ratio of 5 females: 3 males. The mean age for women was 57.79, a standard deviation of 14.96, and for men 60.75, a standard deviation of 9.4. Considering the total of primary publications of CTSS outcomes, the accumulated incidence reached the maximum of 0.15 CRPS after CTSS patients/CTSS patients. The known risk factors for CRPS after CTSS: female gender, from the fifth decade of life, tourniquet time, immobilization and surgery on dominant hand. Conclusion: CRPS affects 2-5% of people undergoing CTSS. Its diagnosis is still a challenge and its risk factors are unclear, although it seems more likely to affect women, in the dominant hand. The most used treatments include physiotherapy and stellate ganglion block. Most patients show improvement of symptoms within one year. Further clinical trials comparing treatment modalities are required.

Metric Evaluation of Reliability and Transparency of the Videos About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery in the Online Platforms: Assessment of YouTube Videos' Content.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality and reliability of carpal tunnel syndrome surgery videos on YouTube. METHODS: A keyword set of "carpal tunnel syndrome surgery" was searched on YouTube. The DISCERN scoring system, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) scoring system, and Health on the Net (HON) ranking systems were used to evaluate the quality and reliability of the first 50 videos appeared in the search results. The characteristics of each video, such as the number of likes, dislikes and views, upload days, video length, and the uploader, were collected retrospectively. The relationships between the video quality and these factors were investigated statistically. RESULTS: All of the featured videos sorted were found to be of poor content (mean DISCERN score [n = 1.71 of 5], mean JAMA score [n = 1.76 of 4], mean HON score [n = 5.65 of 16]). Yet, DISCERN scores of the videos uploaded by medical centers were higher than that of the others (p = 0.022). No relationship was detected between the other variables and video quality. CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals and organizations should be more cautious when recording and uploading a video to the online platforms. As those videos could reach a wide audience, their content should provide more information about possible complications of a treatment and other treatment modalities.

Evaluation of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome treated by endoscopic technique.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postoperative results of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome by the endoscopic release technique with single portal. METHODS: 78 patients (80 wrists) were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 3 and 6 months by the Boston questionnaire, the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, monofilament test sensitivity, grip strength, lateral pinch, pulp to pulp pinch and tripod pinch. RESULTS: Statistical analysis was significant (p <0.05) in the progressive decline of pain and improved function (Boston) during follow-up. The sensitivity significantly improved comparing the data pre and postoperatively. The grip strength, lateral pinch, pulp to pulp pinch and tripod pinch decreased in the first month after surgery, returning to preoperative values around the third month postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The technique proved to be safe and effective in improving pain, function, and return sensitivity and strength. Level of Evidence II, Prospective study.

Carpal tunnel syndrome - Part II (treatment).

The treatments for non-deficit forms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are corticoid infiltration and/or a nighttime immobilization brace. Surgical treatment, which includes sectioning the retinaculum of the flexors (retinaculotomy), is indicated in cases of resistance to conservative treatment in deficit forms or, more frequently, in acute forms. In minimally invasive techniques (endoscopy and mini-open), and even though the learning curve is longer, it seems that functional recovery occurs earlier than in the classical surgery, but with identical long-term results. The choice depends on the surgeon, patient, severity, etiology and availability of material. The results are satisfactory in close to 90% of the cases. Recovery of strength requires four to six months after regression of the pain of pillar pain type. This surgery has the reputation of being benign and has a complication rate of 0.2-0.5%.

Os tratamentos nas formas não deficitárias da síndrome do túnel do carpo (SCC) são a infiltração de corticoide e/ou uma órtese de imobilização noturna. O tratamento cirúrgico, que compreende a secção do retináculo dos flexores (retinaculotomia), é indicado em caso de resistência ao tratamento conservador nas formas deficitárias ou, mais frequentemente, nas formas agudas. Nas técnicas minimamente invasivas (endoscópica e miniopen), independentemente de a curva de aprendizado ser mais longa, parece que a recuperação funcional é mais precoce em relação à cirurgia clássica, mas com os resultados em longo prazo idênticos. A escolha depende do cirurgião, do paciente, da gravidade, da etiologia e da disponibilidade do material. Os resultados são próximos de 90% de casos satisfatórios. A recuperação da força necessita de quatro a seis meses após a regressão das dores do tipo dor do pilar (pillar pain). Essa cirurgia tem a reputação de ser benigna e apresenta de 0.2% a 0.5% de complicações.

Evaluation of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome treated by endoscopic technique

Objective: To evaluate the postoperative results of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome by the endoscopic release technique with single portal. Methods: 78 patients (80 wrists) were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 3 and 6 months by the Boston questionnaire, the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, monofilament test sensitivity, grip strength, lateral pinch, pulp to pulp pinch and tripod pinch. Results: Statistical analysis was significant (p <0.05) in the progressive decline of pain and improved function (Boston) during follow-up. The sensitivity significantly improved comparing the data pre and postoperatively. The grip strength, lateral pinch, pulp to pulp pinch and tripod pinch decreased in the first month after surgery, returning to preoperative values around the third month postoperatively. Conclusion: The technique proved to be safe and effective in improving pain, function, and return sensitivity and strength. Level of Evidence II, Prospective study .

A comparison of outcomes of carpal tunnel release in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

The coexistence of diabetes might complicate the diagnosis and operative outcomes of carpal tunnel syndrome. We retrospectively compared the results of carpal tunnel release in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The group included 386 patients, 322 female (83%) and 64 male (17%) with a mean age of 57 years. A total of 41 patients (11%) were diabetic, whereas 345 (89%) did not have diabetes. Patients were followed-up at six months, by assessments that included Levine scores, filament tests, grip and pinch strength. No significant differences in any of the measured variables were found at the six-month assessment. The results of the study show that carpal tunnel release in diabetic and non-diabetic patients are similarly beneficial.

PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN PROXIMAL TRANSVERSE INCISION AND THE CONVENTIONAL LONGITUDINAL INCISIONS FOR CARPAL TUNNEL RELEASE.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a pathological condition frequently seen in orthopedic consultation offices. It is most common compressive neuropathy and also the one most often treated surgically. CTS is usually diagnosed clinically, through the clinical history, physical examination (Tinel, Phalen and Durkan tests) and complementary examinations, and more specifically, nerve conduction studies. Ultrasound scans and magnetic resonance imaging may also be used. Conservative treatment is reserved for patients presenting with mild symptoms, with little incapacitation, who show good response to non-steroidal or steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy and lifestyle changes. Surgical treatment is more frequent, and a variety of techniques are used. The goal of the surgery is to decompress the carpal tunnel and, by sectioning the transverse carpal ligament, release the median nerve. The aim of this paper was to compare surgical treatment of CTS by means of a transverse mini-incision made proximally to the carpal canal, with the classic longitudinal incision over the carpal canal. The mini-incision technique was shown to be less invasive and equally effective for treating CTS, with less morbidity than with the classic longitudinal incision.