Chinese Research Favors Double Incision Carpal Tunnel Surgery

In a study of 207 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, researchers in China found that release through double small incisions was minimally invasive, provided good visualization for the surgeon and resulted in a good appearance of the scars when compared with standard open release or endoscopic release procedures. Their study was published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. (A Randomized Comparison of Double Small, Standard, and Endoscopic Approaches for Carpal Tunnel Release by Zhang, Xu M.D., Ph.D.; Huang, Xiangye M.D.; Wang, Xianhui M.D.; Wen, Shumin M.D.; Sun, Jianxin M.D.; Shao, Xinzhong M.D. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery: September 2016 – Volume 138 – Issue 3 – p 641–647)

For the study researchers divided the patients to either a carpal tunnel release treatment using double small incisions, a standard incision group or an endoscopic release group. All of the participants were in their mid-forties.

The cohorts had no significant differences regarding symptom severity or function status and no significant differences with regard to age, gender, affected side or duration of symptoms, according to Healio reporter Bruce Thiel.

The researchers wrote, “Our study found that carpal tunnel release through the double small incisions combined the advantages of the standard open carpal tunnel release and endoscopic carpal tunnel release. The advantages include a minimally invasive procedure, good visualization of the operating field, a less technically challenging procedure, a low wound complication rate and a good appearance.”