Endoscopic carpal tunnel release is a new technique for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. The benefits of this procedure are a small skin wound with less local pain, the fact that the hand can quickly be used again, and earlier return to work or other activities. We present the preliminary results of the 3-month follow-up of 88 patients out of a prospective study of 100 patients. All patients were operated on using the one-port technique. Six additional decompressions had to be abandoned and open release was performed. Of the patients with pain, 73.6% (68/88) were completely pain-free and in 13.2% (9/68) pain improved in more than 50%. Subjective symptoms like paresthesia and numbness of the hand disappeared completely in 77.2% (64/83). Sensory deficits disappeared in 50% (33/66). Ten of 17 patients with preoperative paresis of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle and 11/14 with paresis of the opponens pollicis muscle had normal motor function 3 months after the operation. The complication rate concerning nerve lesions was 2.3%. The return to work time was 21 days (range 3-49 days). According to clinical symptoms, our preliminary results do not seem to have any benefits compared to the conventional open technique, and the costs for the endoscopic procedure are markedly higher. The complication rate after the learning curve period is approximately the same as open carpal tunnel release.

The examination of 30 body builders showed that prolonged practice of this sport may lead to exercise-induced carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Three of these body builders demonstrated typical symptoms of CTS. It was shown that, especially when training had lasted for more than 6 years, the distal motor latency (DML) of the median nerve increased significantly. A clear correlation between the estimated total duration of training and the DML was found.