Surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome with limited incision through mid-palmar area

The aim of this study is to decrease scar discomfort and pillar pain of carpal tunnel syndrome surgery results which were performed with mini invasive surgery. We prefered to perform minimally invasive method to preserve the pillar area which is one of the most intensive area for subcuteneous nerve and which is containing most contact area within the hand. The study included 200 hands of 160 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, operated at Akdeniz University School of Medicine department of orthopedics and traumatology between January 2006- December 2010. All hands were operated by the same surgeon with mini (limited) incision which was performed through distal part of the transvers carpal ligament at mid palmar region. Post-operatively 200 hands evaluated with Boston Questionnaire, grip and pinch strength, patient satisfaction and 29 of them also evaluated with control EMG results. We achieved statistically significant improvement with grip and pinch strength. In post-operative period we achieved significant improvement according to Boston Questionnaire. When we evaluated the pre-operative and post-operative EMG results of 29 patient we have found 83% healing. Patient's satisfaction about the procedure was 96,5%. We conclude that in limited-open carpal tunnel surgery from the mid-palmar region preserve cutaneous nerves and improve outcome. Successful results can be achieved with mid-palmar mini (limited) incision technique which is a reliable, cheap and effective method of treatment.