OPEN CARPAL-TUNNEL RELEASE - DOES A VASCULARIZED HYPOTHENAR FAT PAD REDUCE WOUND TENDERNESS

Carpal tunnel decompression gives relief of symptoms of tingling and n umbness in the fingers in around 90% of carpal tunnel syndrome cases. The most common complaint after operation is pain and tenderness about the operation scar. The normal median nerve slides back and forth dur ing wrist movement. Loss of this movement due to scar adhesion is sugg ested as a cause of wound pain and residual symptoms. We performed a c ontrolled, blinded study of bilateral primary carpal tunnel releases c omparing standard closure with a hypothenar fat pad flap modified clos ure. No significant differences in pain or other symptoms were found.