COMPARISON OF PROXIMAL AND DISTAL ONE PORTAL ENTRY TECHNIQUES FOR ENDOSCOPIC CARPAL-TUNNEL RELEASE - A CADAVER STUDY

Reported complications of endoscopic carpal tunnel release have increa sed as more surgeons use this technique to release the flexor retinacu lum. We used a cadaver model to compare the results of endoscopic carp al tunnel release through a one-portal distal (Group A, 15 specimens) and a one-portal proximal (Group B, 15 specimens) entry site with a ne w endoscopic technique. Our custom-made glass tube of three different sizes (5, 7, and 9 mm in diameter) is designed to house an endoscope a nd accommodate a meniscus knife for releasing the flexor retinaculum. Complete release of the flexor retinaculum was obtained in all limbs i n both groups. In Group A the one complication (7%) was loss of the co tton tip from the cotton swab stick within the carpal tunnel. In Group B, there was a single case of injury to the superficial palmar arch i n one hand and breakage of a glass tube in another hand, for a total c omplication rate of 13%. No other damage to anatomical structures was noted.