To investigate the clinical efficacy of arthroscopic carpal tunnel release for carpal tunnel syndrome.

This study is a retrospective cohort study. 143 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome admitted from January 2020 to January 2023 were selected and divided into observation group and control group. The observation group underwent arthroscopic carpal tunnel release surgery, while the control group underwent traditional carpal tunnel release surgery. The clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared after surgery. According to the functional evaluation criteria for carpal tunnel syndrome recommended by Gu Yudong, the two-point discrimination of the distal segment of the index finger, electromyographic examination results (median nerve conduction velocity and sensory action potential), median nerve ultrasound, and Boston carpal tunnel (BTCQ) scores were compared between the two groups at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated using the Kelly evaluation method. The cross-sectional area (CSA), flatness rate (MNFR), and median nerve swelling rate (MNSR) of the median nerve in the pea bone plane between two groups of patients before and after surgery were compared using magnetic resonance imaging.

There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups of patients in terms of two-point discrimination of the distal segment of the index finger, median nerve conduction velocity, sensory action potential, median nerve ultrasound, BTCQ score, Kelly score, CSA, MNFR, and MNSR.

The two surgical methods have similar effects in treating carpal tunnel syndrome, but arthroscopic carpal tunnel release surgery has a smaller incision, simpler operation, and faster recovery compared to traditional surgical methods.

Carpal tunnel syndrome; Arthroscopes; Magnetic resonance imaging