MORPHOLOGIC CHANGES FOLLOWING ENDOSCOPIC AND 2-PORTAL SUBCUTANEOUS CARPAL-TUNNEL RELEASE

This study describes the morphologic changes that occur following sing le incision endoscopic and two-portal subcutaneous carpal tunnel relea se. Seventeen patients were studied preoperatively and an average of 2 4 weeks postoperatively. Canal volume, carpal arch width, and median n erve palmar displacement and cross-sectional area were measured by use of multiplanar reformation and three-dimensional reconstruction of ma gnetic resonance images. Both methods produced a marked increase in ca nal volume and median nerve cross-sectional area; neither resulted in a significant change in carpal arch width. These data provide a morpho logic basis for the belief that endoscopic or subcutaneous carpal tunn el release will produce clinical relief equivalent to open carpal tunn el release.