透明外导管行Chow法内镜治疗腕管综合征

目的探讨内镜下采用透明外导管双入口Chow法施行腕横韧带松解术治疗腕管综合征的疗效及安全性。方法选取2008年7月至2013年3月在北京大学第一医院以透明外导管行双入口Chow法治疗腕管综合征的27例患者38个腕关节。其中男4例,女23例;年龄25~66岁,平均52.81岁;右腕12例,左腕4例,双腕11例。根据术前症状按滨田分类法分级,Ⅰ级9腕,Ⅱ级6腕,Ⅲ级23腕。手术采用局麻、止血带,腕部小切口引入透明导管,在透明外导管内可分辨出肌腱、韧带、神经的情况下切开腕横韧带,松解正中神经。结果术后随访2~47个月,平均17.67个月。失访6例,共随访32个腕关节。单腕平均手术时间15 min,出血0 mL。术后1例出现疼痛、麻木加重,无正中神经、血管、肌腱损伤及神经黏连等并发症,无二次手术者。无皮肤深浅感觉障碍、无切口瘢痕疼痛者。握力及捏力均不同程度改善。术后Kelly分级评定,优18腕,良9腕,一般4腕,差1腕,优良率为84.3%。分级为一般及差的5例均出现在术前滨田分类Ⅲ级的患者中。结论关节镜下用可视的透明外套管行"双孔道"Chow法腕横韧带松解术结合了Chow法与Okutsu法的优点,皮肤切口小,组织创伤轻,手术时间短,术后不需石膏外固定,不残留大的手术瘢痕。此方法是一种有效且操作安全性高的微创术式。     

Opioid Versus Nonopioid Analgesia After Carpal Tunnel Release: A Randomized,Prospective Study

Background: The purpose of this investigation was to compare pain control and patient satisfaction for conventional postoperative opioid analgesia and nonopioid multimodal analgesia after elective open or endoscopic carpal tunnel release (CTR). Methods: As part of a randomized, prospective study, patients undergoing primary, elective CTR were randomized to receive either postoperative opioids or nonopioid medications as part of a multimodal pain control strategy. Patients currently taking opioids were excluded. Patients completed a postoperative pain journal and completed the shortened version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH), Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and satisfaction ratings at their 2-week visit. Results: A total of 68 patients were included. Preoperatively, there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to pain scores, coping skills, or carpal tunnel symptoms. At 2 weeks postoperatively, patients in the nonopioid group had lower average NPRS and QuickDASH scores. Patients who took opioids consumed an average of 5 pills. No patient randomized to the nonopioid group required any opioids. Patients in the nonopioid group demonstrated lower early postoperative NPRS scores. Patient satisfaction with their pain control regimen and outcome was not significantly different between the 2 groups at any time point. Conclusions: Nonopioid medications as part of a perioperative pain control strategy demonstrate improved pain scores compared with opioid medications with similar patient satisfaction and functional outcomes. Considering the risks associated with the use of opioid analgesics, we recommend against prescribing opioids after CTR, particularly in patients not currently taking narcotic medications.     

Flexor Tenosynovectomy for Recurrent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Retrospective Case Series of 108 Hands

Background: The etiology of recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is unclear, and outcomes following secondary surgery in this demographic have been poorer than primary surgery. Fibrosis and hypertrophy have been identified in the flexor tenosynovium in these patients. The authors use flexor tenosynovectomy (FTS) for recurrent CTS after primary carpal tunnel release and present a review of these patients. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of 108 cases of FTS for recurrent CTS from 1995 to 2015 by 4 attending surgeons at one institution. Demographic information, symptoms, and outcomes were among the data recorded. A phone survey was conducted on available patients where the shortened version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH) and satisfaction were assessed. Results: Average office follow-up was 12 months. Average age was 57.5 years. A total of 104 (96%) reported symptom improvement and 48 (44%) reported complete symptom resolution. Forty patients were available for long-term follow-up at an average 6.75 years postoperatively via phone interview. Average QuickDASH score was 31.2 in these patients. Thirty-six (90%) of 40 patients were initially satisfied at last office visit, and 31 (78%) of 40 were satisfied at average 6.9 years, a maintenance of satisfaction of 86%. Satisfied patients were older (58 years) than unsatisfied patients (51 years). Conclusion: Both long-term satisfaction and QuickDASH scores in our cohort are consistent with or better than published results from nerve-shielding procedures. The authors believe a decrease in both carpal tunnel volume and potential adhesions of fibrotic or inflammatory synovium contributes to the benefits of this procedure. This remains our procedure of choice for recurrent CTS.     

Palmaris profundus tendon prohibiting endoscopic carpal tunnel release: case report

Palmaris profundus is an aberrant muscle of forearm and wrist anatomy. It has no discernible function, but its tendon has been implicated as a cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. Previously, all cases of palmaris profundus in the literature have been encountered during either open surgery or cadaveric dissection. We report a case of palmaris profundus encountered during attempted single-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release, necessitating conversion to an open approach. There was a unique point of tendon insertion onto the undersurface of the transverse carpal ligament, more proximal than what has been previously described in the literature. There were other anomalies present as well, including a persistent median artery and bifid median nerve. Given the volar position of the structure, its proximal point of insertion, and its minimal bulk, we did not feel that this was the cause of our patient's carpal tunnel syndrome.     

Segmental carpal canal pressure in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome

PURPOSE: To clarify which part of the median nerve is the most compressed and to compare carpal canal pressure with the latency of the sensory nerve potential and the duration of symptoms. METHODS: Fifteen patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome were studied using a pressure guidewire system to record canal pressure. The wire was introduced from the distal end of the carpal canal to 2 cm proximal to the distal wrist crease (DWC) and then retracted in 5-mm increments using an image intensifier to guide the progress. A nerve conduction study was performed, and all patients were asked how long the symptoms lasted. RESULTS: Carpal canal pressure was significantly higher 5 to 15 mm distal to the DWC. The most compressed point was 10 mm distal to the DWC, with a pressure of 44.9 +/- 26.4 mm Hg. The correlation coefficient between the highest canal pressure and the latency was 0.393 and between highest canal pressure and duration of symptoms was 0.402. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the most compressed part of the median nerve in the carpal canal is 10 mm distal to the DWC. The carpal canal pressure was related to the latency and to the duration of symptoms.     

Carpal tunnel and transverse carpal ligament stiffness with changes in wrist posture and indenter size

This study investigated the effects of loading and posture on mechanical properties of the transverse carpal ligament (TCL). Ten fresh‐frozen cadaver arms were dissected to expose the TCL and positioned in the load frame of a servo‐hydraulic testing machine, equipped with a load cell and custom made indenters. Four cylindrical indenters (5, 10, 20, and 35 mm) loaded the TCL in three wrist postures (30° extension, neutral and 30° flexion). Three loading cycles with a peak force of 50 N were applied at 5 N/s for each condition. The flexed wrist posture had significantly greater TCL stiffness (40.0 ± 3.3 N/mm) than the neutral (35.9 ± 3.5 N/mm, p = 0.045) and extended postures (34.9 ± 2.8 N/mm, p = 0.025). TCL stiffness using the 10 and 20 mm indenters was larger than the 5 mm indenter. Stiffness was greatest with the 20 mm indenter, which had the greatest indenter contact area on the TCL. The 35 mm indenter covered the carpal bones, compressed the carpal tunnel and produced the lowest stiffness. The complexity of the TCL makes it an important part of the carpal tunnel and the mechanical properties found are essential to understanding mechanisms of carpal tunnel syndrome. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29:1682–1687, 2011     

FREE FLAP TRANSFERS FOR THE TREATMENT OF OSTEOMYELITIS OF THE LOWER LEG

Since 1974, 31 cases of soft tissue defects associated with osteomyelitis of the lower leg have been treated by free flap transfer and followed up for more than three years. Four patients developed recurrences. Two of them were reoperated on and healed well. One patient was reoperated on three times, but remained infected. One patient developed a fever, but improved after intravenous infusion of antibiotics. Of the eight patients who underwent vascularised muscle transfer to the dead space created by saucerisation of the osteomyelitis, none developed signs of recurrence. By contrast, the four patients who developed recurrences were those in whom the dead space could not be completely filled with the free flap. It therefore seems important that after saucerisation, well-vascularised soft tissue should be used to pack the dead space completely to prevent recurrence of the osteomyelitis.     

The Modified Ultrasound-Guided Distal-to-Proximal Carpal Tunnel Injection With Median Nerve Hydrodissection: A Retrospective Safety Review of 827 Procedures

Objective: The aim of this report is to describe a new ultrasound guided technique for carpal tunnel injection and median nerve hydrodissection using distal to proximal approach. Methods: From 2015 to 2019, 827 consecutive injections by distal-to-proximal approach were included using coding information to check for post-procedural skin hypopigmentation, hematoma, seroma, nerve injury, or vascular injury. Results: There were no occurrences of post-procedural skin-hypopigmentation, hematoma or seroma formation, or neurovascular injury. Conclusions: The distal approach carpal tunnel injection is a safe and effective method. It may directly inject the medication into carpal tunnel to avoid skin hypopigmentation from steroid side effect with previous report method, also it may release adhesion of median nerve with surrounding soft tissue by hydrodissection. It helps median nerve compression at outlet of carpal tunnel.     

Surgical efficacy of carpal tunnel release for carpal tunnel syndrome in acromegaly: report of four patients

Although carpal tunnel syndrome is frequent in acromegaly, few acromegalics will be encountered by most hand surgeons. This paper considers the treatment of four cases of acromegaly in whom carpal tunnel syndrome arose, to discuss aspects of management of carpal tunnel syndrome in this patient group.