EVALUATION OF CARPAL CANAL PRESSURE IN CARPAL-TUNNEL SYNDROME

Preoperative electrophysiologic testing and intraoperative carpal cana l pressure measurements were performed on 957 hands in 647 patients wi th clinical signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. Fifty-five symptomatic ha nds in 48 patients were normal in both distal sensory latency and dist al motor latency preoperatively. Carpal canal pressure was, however, s ignificantly elevated compared to control data in all 55 hands. After complete subcutaneous release of the carpal canal using the Universal Subcutaneous Endoscope system, carpal canal pressure was reduced to wi thin the normal control range. Clinical symptoms of carpal tunnel synd rome improved in all 55 hands. Postoperative electrophysiologic data r emained within normal range in patients who agreed to receive electrop hysiologic examinations.