RESULTS OF ENDOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF CARPAL-TUNNEL SYNDROME IN LONG-TERM HEMODIALYSIS VERSUS IDIOPATHIC PATIENTS

The purpose of this paper is to compare the results of our endoscopic management of carpal-tunnel syndrome caused by long-term haemodialysis to that with no apparent cause (idiopathic). We have operated on 551 hands in 370 patients using the Universal Subcutaneous Endoscope syste m under local anaesthesia without a pneumatic tourniquet on an out-pat ient basis since 1986. Ninety-six hands in 64 patients who suffered fr om carpal-tunnel syndrome from long-term haemodialysis and 85 hands in 52 patients who suffered from carpal-tunnel syndrome for no apparent cause were statistically analysed using complete pre- and postoperativ e electrophysiological and clinical studies for periods of time rangin g from over 6 months to 4.8 years (mean 16.9 months). Electrophysiolog ical and clinical results showed that our endoscopic management in lon g-term haemodialysis patients is effective, safe and yields the same r esults as in patients who suffered from carpal-tunnel syndrome for no apparent cause.