Surgical Dressings After Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common compressive neuropathy in the upper extremity. While carpal tunnel release (CTR), both open (OCTR) and endoscopic (ECTR), is safe and effective, there are questions regarding the use of postoperative dressings after surgery. With recent attention to the opioid epidemic, there have been increasing efforts to reduce narcotic usage postoperatively while still controlling expected postoperative pain. Recent authors have found that many patients, particularly older patients, do not require any opioid analgesia after CTR with 47% of men and 36% of women consuming no narcotics after CTR (CHAPMAN). Furthermore, while splints have historically been used after surgery, their need has recently been questioned (LOGLI). It is not currently known if dressing choices influence post-operative pain, function or patient satisfaction after ECTR. A less cumbersome dressing (bandaid) may allow patients to perform daily tasks with more ease after surgery.

The purpose of this investigation is to compare postoperative pain scores and patient satisfaction after ECTR for patients treated with conventional post-operative bulky soft tissue dressings versus those treated with a bandaid after surgery. The hypothesis is that patients using a bandaid after surgery will have an easier time with functional tasks after surgery and that pain scores will not significantly differ between the two groups. Furthermore, this study aims to determine if there are differences in patient satisfaction, functional outcomes, complications, and unscheduled healthcare contact between these two groups. This will be a randomized, controlled investigation.