D03 10 years results of endoscopic carpal tunnel release with the two-portal Chow-technique in 335 patients

Autor/Author: Rosenkranz A.

Pracoviště/Workplace: A.ö. Krankenhaus St.Josef Braunau, Austria

Délka prezentace/presentation time: 15 min.

Summary:

Objectives: In 530 patients an endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) by using the dual portal Chow-technique was performed in the period from 1996 to 2002. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the 10 years results with special regards to subjective satisfaction of patients, the function of the hand, recurrance rate and reoperations.

Methodology: A total of 2200 procedures of endoscopic carpal tunnel release with the two-portal Chow-technique were performed in the hospital of Braunau, Austria from 1996 to 2010. All procedures were done by one surgeon. All patients had electrodiagnostically confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome. To get a 10 years result, a follow-up evaluation was performed in 335 patients who underwent the procedure during the period from 1996 to 2002 (63% of 530 patients).
We evaluated the Dash-Score, the Kapandji-Score, the subjective satisfaction, the strength and sensivity of the hands.

Results: A favourable result with the resolution of the symptomes of carpal tunnel syndrome was achieved in 98,5% of the 335 patients. The average of the Dash-Score (0-100) was 9,5 (range of 0-85); an atrophie of the thenar muscels was reported in 3,5%; the recurrance rate was 0,9%; 2 patients underwent a revision procedure; 98% of the patients were very satisfied.

Conclusion: The ECTR for CTS in the two-portal technique is a reliable procedure with a high success rate. Based on 15 years of experience we believe that this technique is tricky, in the hands of an experienced surgeon, however, a safe procedure with a low rate of complications. A significant learning curve has to be considered. Our results are consistent  with the previously published literature.