Abstract
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral entrapment neuropathy,1,2 with a lifetime incidence estimated at up to 10%.3 The pathophysiology of CTS is thought to be due to compression of the median nerve in the region of the carpal tunnel.4,5 When symptoms are recalcitrant to conservative management, surgical intervention is indicated. The goal of surgery is to decompress the median nerve in the carpal tunnel by transecting the deep transverse carpal ligament (TCL).
Surgical options include open or endoscopic division of the TCL. The gold standard of operative intervention has been the open carpal tunnel release (CTR), which was first popularized by Phalen et al.6,7 In the open technique, this division is typically carried out through a longitudinal palmar incision. Direct vision allows a safe division of the palmar fascia, following which, the TCL is identified and divided longitudinally, with care taken to protect the underlying median nerve.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Duncan K.H., et al., Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome by members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand: results of a questionnaire. J Hand Surg (Am), 1987 12(3): p. 384–91
Pfeffer, G.B., et al., The history of carpal tunnel syndrome. J Hand Surg (Br), 1988 13(1): p. 28–34
Stevens, J.C., et al., Carpal tunnel syndrome in Rochester, Minnesota, 1961 to 1980. Neurology, 1988 38(1): p. 134–8
Gelberman, R.H., et al., The carpal tunnel syndrome. A study of carpal canal pressures. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1981 63(3): p. 380–3
Cobb, T.K., et al., The carpal tunnel as a compartment. An anatomic perspective. Orthop Rev, 1992 21(4): p. 451–3
Phalen, G.S., W.J. Gardner, and A.A. La Londe, Neuropathy of the median nerve due to compression beneath the transverse carpal ligament. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1950 32A(1): p. 109–12
Phalen, G.S., The carpal-tunnel syndrome. Clinical evaluation of 598 hands. Clin Orthop Relat Res, 1972 83: p. 29–40
Semple, J.C. and A.O. Cargill, Carpal-tunnel syndrome. Results of surgical decompression. Lancet, 1969 1(7601): p. 918–9
Seradge, H. and E. Seradge, Piso-triquetral pain syndrome after carpal tunnel release. J Hand Surg (Am), 1989 14(5): p. 858–62
Chow, J.C., Endoscopic release of the carpal ligament: a new technique for carpal tunnel syndrome. Arthroscopy, 1989 5(1): p. 19–24
Agee, J.M., et al., Endoscopic release of the carpal tunnel: a randomized prospective multicenter study. J Hand Surg (Am), 1992 17(6): p. 987–95
Nathan, P.A., K.D. Meadows, and R.C. Keniston, Rehabilitation of carpal tunnel surgery patients using a short surgical incision and an early program of physical therapy. J Hand Surg (Am), 1993 18(6): p. 1044–50
Lee, W.P. and J.W. Strickland, Safe carpal tunnel release via a limited palmar incision. Plast Reconstr Surg, 1998 101(2): p. 418–24; discussion 425–6
Chow, J.C., Endoscopic release of the carpal ligament for carpal tunnel syndrome: 22-month clinical result. Arthroscopy, 1990 6(4): p. 288–96
Trumble, T.E., et al., Single-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release compared with open release: a prospective, randomized trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2002 84-A(7): p. 1107–15
Palmer, D.H., et al., Endoscopic carpal tunnel release: a comparison of two techniques with open release. Arthroscopy, 1993 9(5): p. 498–508
Brown, R.A., et al., Carpal tunnel release. A prospective, randomized assessment of open and endoscopic methods. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1993 75(9): p. 1265–75
Kerr, C.D., M.E. Gittins, and D.R. Sybert, Endoscopic versus open carpal tunnel release: clinical results. Arthroscopy, 1994 10(3): p. 266–9
Okutsu, I., et al., Endoscopic management of carpal tunnel syndrome. Arthroscopy, 1989 5(1): p. 11–8
Okutsu, I., et al., Measurement of pressure in the carpal canal before and after endoscopic management of carpal tunnel syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1989 71(5): p. 679–83
Adams, B.D., Endoscopic carpal tunnel release. J Am Acad Orthop Surg, 1994 2(3): p. 179–84
Bande, S., L. De Smet, and G. Fabry, The results of carpal tunnel release: open versus endoscopic technique. J Hand Surg (Br), 1994 19(1): p. 14–7
Brown, M.G., B. Keyser, and E.S. Rothenberg, Endoscopic carpal tunnel release. J Hand Surg (Am), 1992 17(6): p. 1009–11
Erdmann, M.W., Endoscopic carpal tunnel decompression. J Hand Surg (Br), 1994 19(1): p. 5–13
Feinstein, P.A., Endoscopic carpal tunnel release in a community-based series. J Hand Surg (Am), 1993 18(3): p. 451–4
Resnick, C.T. and B.W. Miller, Endoscopic carpal tunnel release using the subligamentous two-portal technique. Contemp Orthop, 1991 22(3): p. 269–77
Agee, J.M., H.R. McCarroll, and E.R. North, Endoscopic carpal tunnel release using the single proximal incision technique. Hand Clin, 1994 10(4): p. 647–59
Berger, R.A., Endoscopic carpal tunnel release. A current perspective. Hand Clin, 1994 10(4): p. 625–36
Nagle, D.J., et al., A multicenter prospective review of 640 endoscopic carpal tunnel releases using the transbursal and extrabursal chow techniques. Arthroscopy, 1996 12(2): p. 139–43
Seiler, J.G., III, et al., Endoscopic carpal tunnel release: an anatomic study of the two-incision method in human cadavers. J Hand Surg (Am), 1992 17(6): p. 996–1002
Chow, J.C., Endoscopic carpal tunnel release. Two-portal technique. Hand Clin, 1994 10(4): p. 637–46
Viegas, S.F., A. Pollard, and K. Kaminksi, Carpal arch alteration and related clinical status after endoscopic carpal tunnel release. J Hand Surg (Am), 1992 17(6): p. 1012–6
Richman, J.A., et al., Carpal tunnel syndrome: morphologic changes after release of the transverse carpal ligament. J Hand Surg (Am), 1989 14(5): p. 852–7
Hueston, J.T. and W.F. Wilson, The aetiology of trigger finger explained on the basis of intratendinous architecture. Hand, 1972 4(3): p. 257–60
Bonnici, A.V. and J.D. Spencer, A survey of ‘trigger finger’ in adults. J Hand Surg (Br), 1988 13(2): p. 202–3
Gilberts, E.C., et al., Prospective randomized trial of open versus percutaneous surgery for trigger digits. J Hand Surg (Am), 2001 26(3): p. 497–500
Benson, L.S. and A.J. Ptaszek, Injection versus surgery in the treatment of trigger finger. J Hand Surg (Am), 1997 22(1): p. 138–44
Gilberts, E.C. and J.C. Wereldsma, Long-term results of percutaneous and open surgery for trigger fingers and thumbs. Int Surg, 2002 87(1): p. 48–52
Thorpe AP, Results of surgery for trigger finger. J Hand Surg (Br), 1988 13(2): p. 199–201
Hodgkinson JP, et al. Retrospective study of 120 trigger digits treated surgically. J R Coll Surg Edinb, 1988 33(2): p. 88–90
Heithoff, S.J., L.H. Millender, and J. Helman, Bowstringing as a complication of trigger finger release. J Hand Surg (Am), 1988 13(4): p. 567–70
Fu, Y.C., et al., Revision of incompletely released trigger fingers by percutaneous release: results and complications. J Hand Surg (Am), 2006 31(8): p. 1288–91
Lorthioir, J., Jr., Surgical treatment of trigger-finger by a subcutaneous method. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 1958 40-A(4): p. 793–5
Eastwood, D.M., K.J. Gupta, and D.P. Johnson, Percutaneous release of the trigger finger: an office procedure. J Hand Surg (Am), 1992 17(1): p. 114–7
Bain, G.I. and N.A. Wallwork, Percutaneous A1 pulley release a clinical study. Hand Surg, 1999 4(1): p. 45–50
Blumberg, N., R. Arbel, and S. Dekel, Percutaneous release of trigger digits. J Hand Surg (Br), 2001 26(3): p. 256–7
Bara T, and T. Dorman, [Percutaneous trigger finger release]. Chir Narzadow Ruchu Ortop Pol, 2002 67(6): p. 613–7
Cihantimur, B., S. Akin, and M. Ozcan, Percutaneous treatment of trigger finger. 34 fingers followed 0.5–2 years. Acta Orthop Scand, 1998 69(2): p. 167–8
Patel, M.R. and V.J. Moradia, Percutaneous release of trigger digit with and without cortisone injection. J Hand Surg (Am), 1997 22(1): p. 150–5
Pope, D.F. and S.W. Wolfe, Safety and efficacy of percutaneous trigger finger release. J Hand Surg (Am), 1995 20(2): p. 280–3
Wilhelmi, B.J., et al., Safe treatment of trigger finger with longitudinal and transverse landmarks: an anatomic study of the border fingers for percutaneous release. Plast Reconstr Surg, 2003 112(4): p. 993–9
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Vigler, M., Lee, S.K. (2010). Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Carpal Tunnel and Trigger Finger Release. In: Scuderi, G., Tria, A. (eds) Minimally Invasive Surgery in Orthopedics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-76608-9_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-76608-9_16
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-76607-2
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-76608-9
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)