Treating carpal tunnel syndrome endoscopically may not be cost effective

doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7556.0

BMJ 2006;332 (24 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7556.0

Treating carpal tunnel syndrome endoscopically may not be cost effective

In the treatment of employed patients with carpal tunnel syndrome,endoscopic surgery is associated with modestly less pain thanopen surgery up to three months after operation, but it doesnot get patients back to work any faster. Atroshi and colleagues(p 1473) randomised 128 employed patients aged 25-60 years withidiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome to either endoscopic or opencarpal tunnel release surgery. Both methods were equally effectivein relieving symptoms. The small benefit makes the cost effectivenessof endoscopic surgery uncertain, say the authors.

Credit: PHOTOS.COM

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