Dr.Uwe Johannes Nellessen is one of the best Orthopedic Surgeon in Dubai. He is performing at Saudi German Hospital, Dubai. With experience of more than 34 years, he specializes in Arthroscopy of the knee, shoulder, elbow, and ankle joints, Total Knee Arthroplasty, and Total Hip Replacement. His professional skills include German Facharzt for Trauma Surgery in 2000 and 2002 and German Facharzt for Emergency Medicine in 1995. He is a renowned member of the German Association for Sports Medicine, the German Association of Surgery, and the German Association of Traumatology. He has also contributed to several international publications, essays, and presentations to his name. His key interest areas are Joint saving operations, Joint Replacement operations, and Trauma surgeries.
Endoscopic Repair v/s Open Repair
Both endoscopic and open carpal tunnel release procedures allow the successful release of the carpal tunnel ligament to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. Most of the patients can return to their normal activities post-treatment. Recurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome with any of these procedures is rare and most patients experience a complete recovery. Both are generally performed as outpatient procedures. There are no long-term differences in the outcomes of the two approaches as such. Even the long-term satisfaction rates are also similar.
Few differences identified in studies between the two techniques are:
- Studies have depicted that endoscopic surgery can allow a faster functional recovery with a faster recovery in the first 3 months after surgery. Endoscopic surgery has shown and allows a faster return to work.
- Patients undergoing endoscopic surgery experience less pain and tenderness on the scar in the short-term postoperative period, but have pain at similar rates in the long term.
- The smaller single incision made with the endoscopic technique leads to a little scar. The reduced pain with the endoscopic technique is due to the incision not involving the palm as it is more innervated and sensitive than the wrist.
- The operative time for the endoscopic is longer owing to the required equipment setup.
- With any minimally-invasive procedure, there's a little risk with the endoscopic approach of getting intraoperatively converted to an open approach when visibility is impaired.
- The costs for both procedures can be a bit to compare. The additional time and equipment for an endoscopic procedure may result in a higher cost.
- Rates of complications are similar between the two procedures still a study has shown a slightly higher risk of postoperative transient nerve injury with the endoscopic approach.
- Some surgeons feel there is a slightly higher chance of injuring the median nerve with the endoscopic approach and prefer an open approach.
Take Away
Whichever procedure you go for it is important for your surgeon to be familiar and comfortable with that. With all minimally-invasive endoscopic procedures and there is a primary steep learning curve secondary to the specialized technical equipment required. Surgical success is linked to the experience the surgeon is operating. For such experienced treatment contact Dr. Uwe Johannes Nellessen, one of the best Orthopedic surgeons in UAE working at Saudi German Hospital, Dubai.