Aesthetic and Functional Outcomes of Open Carpal Tunnel Release and Thread Carpal Tunnel Release: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives Surgical techniques for carpal tunnel release (CTR) have gradually become less invasive. No substantial evidence supports replacing the open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) with novel minimally invasive approaches. Thread carpal tunnel release (TCTR) is a new minimally invasive CTR method associated with promising results. This study aimed to compare the aesthetic and functional outcomes of OCTR with TCTR. Materials and Methods This study was a randomized clinical trial conducted in a hospital in Tehran, Iran, in 2022. Patients were randomized to OCTR and TCTR groups through simple randomization. Data such as demographics, nerve conduction study, electromyography, pain, and sensory evaluation by monofilament test were recorded in patients at baseline and after 3 months. Aesthetic evaluation was conducted by assessing the scar length and patients' satisfaction 3 months after the surgery. Results Twenty patients (10 in each group) entered the final analysis. Nerve conduction study, electromyography, and sensory evaluation were similar between groups 3 months after the operation. The TCTR group had lower postsurgical pain ( p < 0.001) and lower scar length ( p < 0.001) compared to the OCTR group. Overall satisfaction was not statistically different between TCTR and OCTR. Conclusion The TCTR method is safe in patients with CTS, and its efficacy is similar to OCTR. It can be a good alternative for OCTR, with a better aesthetic outcome.