Early results of surgical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome using a single-portal endoscopic method.

Background. Carpal tunnel syndrome, the most common peripheral neuropathy, is caused by increased carpal tunnel pressure and decreased carpal tunnel volume. The aim of our study was to evaluate early results in single-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release for the surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Material and methods. The population included 67 patients with 80 hands operated using single-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release. The sample included in this study consisted of 45 patients (67% of the total) and 56 hands (70%). In order to assess surgical outcome, we used the patients' subjective evaluation, the results of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptom Severity Scale and the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Functional Status Scale, data acquired during anamnesis and physical examinations, and the results of electromyography tests. Results. In 49 cases (88%) the results were rated subjectively as good or excellent, in 6 cases (11%) satisfactory, and in 1 case (2%) unsatisfactory. At follow-up 12 months after surgery the results from the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptom Severity Scale ranged from 1.2 to 3.64 (mean 1.55), and on the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Functional Status Scale from 1.12 to 3.71 (mean 1.66). Conclusions. Single-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release gives good results in the surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome among patients diagnosed with grade I or grade II CTS, and in those groups of patients for whom revision surgery is not planned, tenosynovectomy is not indicated, and there is no need to inspect the motor branch of the median nerve.