Effectiveness and safety of surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome via a mini-transverse incision and a bush hook versus a mid-palmar small longitudinal incision

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome has been consistently the mainstay of treatment. In this study, we developed a novel bush hook via a mini-transverse incision at proximal wrist crease to surgically treat carpal tunnel syndrome and our aim was to compare the results with those of mid-palmar small longitudinal incision in carpal tunnel release. METHODS: This is a retrospective study on patients who received a mini-transverse incision and a novel bush hook or a mid-palmar small longitudinal incision for treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. The decision to receive either technique was made mainly based on patients' choice. The clinical results were evaluated at 1 week, 1 month, 3 and 6 months postoperatively and compared. RESULTS: In total, 58 patients in mini-transverse incision group and 74 in mid-palmar longitudinal incision group were include. The follow-up period was 6.8 ± 1.6 months. The mini-transverse incision group had a significantly smaller incision (4.3 ± 0.4 mm vs. 26.2 ± 1.6 mm), shorter surgical time (7.8 ± 2.6 min vs. 19.7 ± 2.8 min), but not for hospital stay (3.2 ± 1.9 vs. 3.6 ± 2.2 days). Both groups showed significant improvement from baseline level at any time points postoperatively (all P < 0.001). At 1 month and 3 months, the mini-transverse incision group showed a significantly better improvement of VAS, SSS and FSS score (P < 0.05). At 6 months, the differences were no longer significant (P > 0.05). In addition, the mini-transverse incision group showed a significantly reduced time to return to the work and activities, tendency to higher rate of excellence and good outcomes and fewer complications. CONCLUSIONS: This novel technique via a mini-transverse incision and bush hook showed better clinical effectiveness and safety, and can be considered as an alternative for wrist tunnel release after the results are validated by higher-level evidence studies. Evidence level: III. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13018-022-02967-z.