Mini-incision Carpal Tunnel Release

Carpal tunnel syndrome has been reported as the most common neuropathy in humans. The syndrome has a major impact on socio-economic life due to its high incidence and it usually affects the working-age population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results and reliability after our own mini-open incision with simple retractors from eye surgery, through a 1.5–2.0 cm long incision. For this reason, we used Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The study included 24 operated hands in 23 patients (79% females; 21% males). The right hand was affected in 19 patients (83%), the left – in three patients (13%) and in one patient (4%) we performed bilateral decompression. The mean length of the incision scar was 1.5 ± 0.3 cm.В Subjectively, most of the patients (20 of 23) had improvement of paresthesia after 3 months postoperative examination. No patients reported recurrence of the symptoms that would require second decompression. Significant differences between the preand postoperative evaluation were observed in Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. In conclusion, our study presented that the median nerve decompression with a mini-incision technique was safe and effective operative technique with short learning curve, especially for experienced with opened techniques hand surgeons. The final results revealed that patients with mini-incision approach have satisfactory surgical outcomes, low postoperative complications, good patient satisfaction and appearance. 

Lateral epicondylitis: New trends and challenges in treatment

Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is a chronic aseptic inflammatory condition caused by repetitive microtrauma and excessive overload of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle. This is the most common cause of musculoskeletal pain syndrome in the elbow, inducing significant pain and limitation of the function of the upper limb. It affects approximately 1-3% of the population and is frequently seen in racquet sports and sports associated with functional overload of the elbow, such as tennis, squash, gymnastics, acrobatics, fitness, and weight lifting. Typewriters, artists, musicians, electricians, mechanics, and other professions requiring frequent repetitive movements in the elbow and wrists are also affected. LE is a leading causation for absence from work and lower sport results in athletes. The treatment includes a variety of conservative measures, but if those fail, surgery is indicated. This review summarizes the knowledge about this disease, focusing on risk factors, expected course, prognosis, and conservative and surgical treatment approaches.

Translation and Validation of the Bulgarian Version of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire

Background and Objective: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common mononeuropathy in humans. Despite the continuous improvement of diagnostic and treatment methods, difficulties remain in the evaluation and quantification of such symptoms as pain, paresthesias, hypesthesia, and hyperesthesia. Numerous tests and questionnaires have been developed for patients with upper limb disease, but the most specific for CTS and the most commonly used is the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ). BCTQ has been translated and validated for use in many languages, but there is no valid version in Bulgarian yet. The purpose of this work is to create and validate a Bulgarian version of BCTQ, with a recommendation for its use in Bulgarian patients.

Methods: The process was divided into two parts. The first part included a translation and a cultural-linguistic adaptation of the Bulgarian version of BCTQ. In the second part, verification of the psychometric properties of the Bulgarian BCTQ, we investigated the reliability, validity and responsiveness of the Bulgarian version of BCTQ. We evaluated BCTQ's construct validity by comparing its results with the score of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. The study was performed on a group of 64 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CTS. All patients were evaluated using the BCTQ and DASH questionnaires. A subgroup of 26 patients underwent open surgical decompression of the carpal canal using a mini-incision technique. The subgroup was evaluated through BCTQ and DASH questionnaires preoperatively and through BCTQ postoperatively at the third month after the intervention.

Results: In the first part of the study, the final version of the questionnaire was presented. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.88 for the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) and 0.87 for the Functional Status Scale (FSS). The reproducibility of scores showed an extremely high degree of correlation between the two consecutive BCTQ scores at one-week interval (SSS r=0.99, p<0.0001; FSS r=1, p<0.0001). The criterion validity of the Bulgarian version of BCTQ revealed a strong correlation between the results of the BCTQ and the DASH questionnaires. (SSS r(62)=0.569, p<0.00001; FSS r(62)=0.605, p<0.00001). There was a statistically significant decrease in BCTQ results after surgery for both the SSS (t=-9.43, p<0.00001) and the FSS (t=-9.82, p<0.00001).

Conclusion: Our study created a translated and culturally adapted version of BCTQ. The Bulgarian version of BCTQ is reliable, valid, and responsive for measuring symptoms and functional deficits in patients with CTS.

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Approaches in Patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Physical therapy involves a set of factors and methods that affect the biological processes in the body. It is widely used, relatively inexpensive, non-invasive, and easy to apply. Physiotherapy is also used in the treatment of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This syndrome represents the most common compressive mononeuropathy of the upper limb and leads to significant disability. Hence, its successful treatment leads to significant benefits for both the patient and society. There is no established algorithm for the use of physical therapy in these patients. In this publication, we present the physiotherapeutic methods used for the treatment of CTS both before and after surgical treatment.

Medical Ultrasound in the Evaluation of the Carpal Tunnel: A Critical Review

The use of medical ultrasound as an imaging modality in the evaluation of the carpal tunnel syndrome has been growing. Technical progress and the introduction of new, high-quality devices and ultra-high frequency transducers with smaller dimensions have led to a better quality of acquired images and the development of new examination methodologies. The sonographic method has a number of advantages: available, non-invasive, cheaper, and allows an easier and faster evaluation and diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, along with the possibility to assess various parameters of the median nerve, including its size, blood flow, and mobility. In addition, medical ultrasound may be used to detect anatomical variations and space-occupying lesions in the carpal tunnel to monitor the therapeutic response in patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome and to evaluate median nerve injuries. Herein, we present a review of the pertinent literature with regard to the diagnostic potential of medical ultrasound in the evaluation of pathological changes in the carpal tunnel.