T. Kato et al., EFFECTS OF ENDOSCOPIC RELEASE OF THE TRANSVERSE CARNAL LIGAMENT ON CARPAL CANAL VOLUME, The Journal of hand surgery, 19A(3), 1994, pp. 416-419
Ten hands in 10 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome were treated by s
ubcutaneous transverse carpal ligament release using the Universal Sub
cutaneous Endoscope system. We analyzed the morphologic changes of the
carpal canal with magnetic resonance imaging (0.064 T) before and aft
er the operation. The axial plane, which includes the beak of the trap
ezium and the hook of the hamate, was selected for analysis. The soft
tissue boundaries of the carpal canal were outlined at the plane. The
cross-sectional area of the carpal canal was 232 +/- 49 mm(2) before s
urgery and 320 +/- 108 mm(2) after surgery. There was a 33% +/- 15% in
crease of the carpal canal cross-section after transverse carpal ligam
ent release. The transverse carpal ligament became more outwardly conv
ex after the operation. The endoscopic procedure is effective for incr
easing the cross-sectional area and volume of the carpal canal.