Endoscopic treatment of the carpal tunnel syndrome: review of the recent literature

The carpal tunnel syndrome is a common pathology, recognized since one and half century. Its surgical treatment, median nerve neurolysis, has only been popularized 30 years ago. Despite improvement of the surgical technique, two main problems remain unsolved: lack of grip strength and "pillar" pain, which can last several weeks after surgery. Endoscopy, in a same way as knee meniscectomy or cholecystectomy, has contributed to minimize drawbacks of conventional surgery. Ten years of experience have improved the material and the technique, the most recent series reporting very low complication rates. In experimented hands, and with correct indications, endoscopic treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome offers a clinical benefit for the patient and an economical one for the Society.