Endoscopic Release of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; Temporal Correlation between Symptomatic and Electrophysiological Improvements in Postoperative Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We evaluate temporal correlations between postoperative symptomatic and electrophysiological improvements, and assessed the recovery time required for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) before returning to routine activities. METHODS: 30 CTS patients were treated via the endoscopic monoportal approach, from March 2001 to September 2003. We assessed the symptoms (hyperesthesia in the finger tips, or abnormal sensations and painful numbness or night pain) and electrophysiological changes in the preoperative state, 1 month and 6 months after surgery. We marked the times at which patients became able to return to activities of daily living and work, after undergoing endoscopic carpal tunnel release. RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up period, high levels of achievement and good outcomes were observed, with respect to both the symptoms and electrophysiological studies. We discovered significant differences between the preoperative and postoperative periods, especially in terms of motor nerve onset latency from 4.50+/-1.43 to 3.97+/-0.69 and sensory nerve conduction velocity, the wrist-to-finger from 19.81+/-10.03 to 28.18+/-11.01 and wrist-to-palm from 23.34+/-13.40 to 31.79+/-13.38(p<0.05 for each comparison). The average time interval required before return to activities of daily living was 26.4 days, and time interval required before return to work was 48.08 days. CONCLUSION: Electrophysiological improvements are largely consistent with symptomatic relief, but there is some disparity between electrophysiological and symptomatic improvement.