Resumen

JIMENEZ-PEREIRA, Eliécer; JIMENEZ-MONTERO, Valeska  y  VARGAS-VILLALOBOS, Francisco. Tratamiento quirúrgico del síndrome del túnel carpal. Rev. costarric. cienc. méd [online]. 2006, vol.27, n.1-2, pp.52-60. ISSN 0253-2948.

The carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common of the peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes encountered by hand surgeons. There is a lot of morbidity related with the operation technic release. We present a "short-incision " operative technique in and effort to decrease the post-operative morbidity of open release. The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and functional outcomes o minimal incision open carpal tunnel release. We present and introduced two cm carpal tunnel incision technic that does not require the use of special devices. Between August 2000 and July 2002 a total of 118 patients underwent carpal tunnel syndrome release in the Hospital San Juan de Dios. All the patients were evaluated with clinic and electro diagnostic studies, and with a detailed symptoms history. All these 118 underwent a carpal tunnel syndrome release after a well documented treatment with rheumatology that was unsuccessful or failed. Patients were between 27 and 73 years old and history ranged from 6 to 60 months. The median nerve was affected unilaterally in 65% and 53% bilaterally. The most common symptom was paresthesia in 95%, follow by pain (85%), and weakness (85%). The tinel sign was positive in 85% patients; motor deficit and muscle atrophy were also present in 24% of the patients. All patients had varying increases latencies and decreases in conduction velocities across the wrist. Postoperative electro physiologic studies were performed in only 3 patients with residual symptoms and still indicated varying degrees of median nerve compression at the wrist level. All patients were treated on an out-patient basis and operations were performed under local anesthesia.

Palabras clave : Tunnel Carpal Syndrome; Tranverse carpal ligament; Phalen ´s Sign; Tinel ´s ign.