Carpal tunnel syndrome: treatment with small transverse incision.

Objective: To evaluate the application of a limited transverse incision technique to treat the carpal tunnel syndrome, with concern to its safety and efficacy in the opening of the flexor retinaculum (FR).

Method: A prospective analysis of thirty FR release procedures performed on twenty-eight patients subjected to the proposed incision technique. Safety and total opening of the FR were evaluated through a questionnaire and an endoscopic inspection respectively.