935 - The comparison of pain relief and functional outcomes between endoscopic and open carpal tunnel release

Objectives: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare pain relief and functional outcomes between endoscopic and open carpal tunnel release techniques.

Design: A comprehensive search was conducted in multiple databases (i.e. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science) to identify relevant studies comparing endoscopic and open carpal tunnel release. Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies were included in the review. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate pooled effect sizes, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. Patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome who underwent either endoscopic or open carpal tunnel release were the participants in the included studies. Any participants involved in clinics, hospitals, or community-based settings were included. Pain relief and functional outcomes were the main outcome measures assessed in the included studies. Pain relief was measured using various scales such as the visual analog scale, and functional outcomes were assessed using grip strength, nerve conduction studies, and other relevant measures.

Results: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. These included randomized controlled trials and cohort studies. Meta-analysis demonstrated that both endoscopic and open carpal tunnel release techniques resulted in significant pain relief (pooled effect size -0.72, 95% confidence interval -1.03 to -0.41) and improved functional outcomes (pooled effect size 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.35 to 0.87).

Conclusions: Both endoscopic and open carpal tunnel release techniques indicated effective pain relief and improved functional outcomes in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The choice of technique may depend on a variety of factors such as surgeon expertise and patient preferences. Further research is needed to explore long-term outcomes and potential predictors of treatment response.