Arthroscopy for carpal tunnel syndrome

  Carpal tunnel syndrome is a fairly common work-related strain injury. There are many reasons why carpal tunnel syndrome occurs. Carpal tunnel syndrome formed at work is often due to prolonged overuse of some tools, such as some jarring tools, such as chainsaws, drills, etc., and excessive use of keyboards and computer mice.  Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome may feel numbness or a swollen sensation or even tingling in the palm of the hand and fingers. The situation may be worse at night when sleeping, often causing the patient to wake up and have to swing the palm like a fan or massage the palm to get relief. Daily actions such as eating, reading the newspaper, answering the phone, or clutching the handrail can have a paralyzing sensation.  On physical examination by a physician, there may be sensory hypersensitivity or dullness in the thumb, indicated and middle fingers. Atrophy of the greater interosseous muscle and weakness of the thumb against the palm. The wrist flexion test is positive. Electrophysiological examination of the median nerve conduction velocity is measured with signs of nerve damage.  Mild carpal tunnel syndrome can be managed or treated with medication, brace braking or by a rehabilitation therapist. Due to thickening of the carpal tunnel wall, decompression of the transverse carpal ligament is feasible in cases of carpal tunnel stenosis, but some postoperative rehabilitation is still necessary, otherwise the patient will still not be able to best restore the function of the hand after surgery.  Carpal tunnel dissection and release has become the standard of care for carpal tunnel syndrome over the past 30 years. Since its creation in the late 1980s, endoscopic carpal tunnel release has generated a certain degree of controversy, and many scholars have conducted numerous clinical and basic studies, showing that endoscopic carpal tunnel release is safer than open surgery because of its low scar pressure pain, short hospital stay, and early functional recovery. When conditions are available, endoscopic carpal tunnel release is safer than open surgery, with fewer complications and higher patient satisfaction. Our department has carried out this type of surgery with good results.