• Joachim Oertel, Henry W S Schroeder, and Michael R Gaab.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Hannover Nordstadt Hospital, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. oertelj@freenet.de
• Neurosurgery. 2006 Aug 1;59(2):333-40; discussion 333-40.

ObjectiveEndoscopic release of carpal tunnel syndrome is still under debate. The main advantages of the technique are considered to be minor postoperative pain and a more rapid postoperative recovery. Disadvantages are thought to be the impossibility of a direct median nerve neurolysis and a higher surgical complication rate, including injury to the median nerve.MethodsThe results of 411 consecutive endoscopic carpal tunnel procedures performed between March 1995 and September 2004 are presented. All patients were prospectively followed.ResultsIn the present series, a success rate of 98.05% was observed. There was no permanent morbidity and, in particular, there was no injury of the median nerve. In four (0.97%) patients, the preoperative symptoms did not improve. In two (0.49%) of these patients, an incomplete release of the carpal ligament occurred. In another four patients (0.97%), a switch to open surgery was required.ConclusionThe present data prove that the endoscopic technique is a safe and reliable technique for carpal tunnel surgery. The data do not support the current discussion of a higher risk of median nerve injury with endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery. Thus, for our group, the endoscopic technique represents the therapy of choice for the primary idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome.

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