SynthesisBMC musculoskeletal disorders2020
Open versus endoscopic carpal tunnel release: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07364604 (Very Early Outcomes in Endoscopic Versus Open Carpal Tunnel Release), which is not on this map. Cited by 72 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Very Early Outcomes in Endoscopic Versus Open Carpal Tunnel Release
Who cites it
72 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 144 citations in OpenAlex.
- [Carpal tunnel release with ultrasound guidance : Efficacy and safety].Orthopadie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026Pooled it
- Time to recovery following open and endoscopic carpal tunnel decompression: meta-analysis.BJS open · 2025Pooled it
- Short incision versus minimally invasive surgery with tool-kit for carpal tunnel syndrome release: a prospective randomized control trial to evaluate the anterior wrist pain and time to return to work or activities.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2022Trial
- Very Early Outcomes in Endoscopic Versus Open Carpal Tunnel Release.Journal of hand surgery global online · 2027Article
- Review
- Comparing Online Patient Searches About Carpal Tunnel Release Approaches: A Study on Modern Search Analytics.Hand (New York, N.Y.) · 2026Article
- Safety and Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Carpal Tunnel Release: A Systematic Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Endoscopic Versus Open Carpal Tunnel Release in 17,700 Obese Patients: A Propensity-matched Cohort Study.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Review
- A scoping review of the impact of transverse carpal ligament sectioning on the thumb carpometacarpal joint: Does it increase the risk of ostearthritis?JPRAS open · 2026Review
- Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Palmaris Longus Abductorplasty for Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Thenar Muscle Paralysis Reconstruction.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Comparative Analysis of Comorbidities and Outcomes in Endoscopic versus Open Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Release in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.Journal of wrist surgery · 2026Article
- Current Surgical Trends in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.Archives of plastic surgery · 2026Article
- Modified mini-open carpal tunnel release: A technical note with patient-reported and clinical outcomes.Brain & spine · 2026Article
- Evaluation of Clemastine's Effects on Clinical and Electrodiagnostic Parameters in Individuals With CTS: A Preliminary Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind RCT.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation · 2025Article
- Evaluation of Endoscopic Release for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2025Article
- Clinical Outcomes Following Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release With the Arthrex NanoScopic Release System-A Single Surgeon Experience.Journal of hand surgery global online · 2025Article
- Wide-awake local anaesthesia in bilateral endoscopic carpal tunnel release Surgery: An efficient ergonomic approach.Journal of hand and microsurgery · 2025Review
- Management of failed carpal tunnel decompression.EFORT open reviews · 2025Article
- Ultrasound-guided minimally invasive thread release of carpal tunnel: a cadaveric study.La Radiologia medica · 2025Article
12 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundEndoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) and open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) both have advantages and disadvantages for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We compared the effectiveness and safety of ECTR and OCTR based on evidence from a high-level randomized controlled trial.
methodsWe comprehensively searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Medline to identify relevant articles published until August 2019. Data regarding operative time, grip strength, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire scores, digital sensation, patient satisfaction, key pinch strength, return to work time, and complications were extracted and compared. All mean differences (MD) and odds ratios (OR) were expressed as ECTR relative to OCTR.
resultsOur meta-analysis contained twenty-eight studies. ECTR was associated with significantly higher satisfaction rates (MD, 3.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43 to 4.82; P = 0.0003), greater key pinch strengths (MD, 0.79 kg; 95% CI, 0.27 to 1.32; P = 0.003), earlier return to work times (MD, - 7.25 days; 95% CI, - 14.31 to - 0.19; P = 0.04), higher transient nerve injury rates (OR, 4.87; 95% CI, 1.37 to 17.25; P = 0.01), and a lower incidence of scar-related complications (OR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.59; P = 0.004). The permanent nerve injury showed no significant differences between the two methods (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 0.58 to 6.40; P = 0.28).
conclusionsOverall, evidence from randomized controlled trials indicates that ECTR results in better recovery of daily life functions compared to OCTR, as revealed by higher satisfaction rates, greater key pinch strengths, earlier return to work times, and fewer scar-related complications. Our findings suggest that patients with CTS can be effectively managed with ECTR.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.