Joseph AE, et al.
Clinical results of ultrasound guided carpal tunnel release performed by a primary care sports medicine physician. J Ultrasound Med 2020;39: 441-52.
To determine the safety and efficacy of carpal tunnel release (CTR) using the Sonex Health SX-One MicroKnife and ultrasound guidance in a community-based practice.
Three-month follow-up on 35 wrists in 22 consecutive patients treated with CTR using the SX-One MicroKnife and ultrasound guidance, including 11 patients treated with simultaneous bilateral releases. The authors reported no complications and there were statistically and clinically significant improvements in QDASH and BCTQ scores within 1-2 weeks post-release that persisted throughout the study period. In addition, the mean global satisfaction score was 4.6 at all post-operative time points (4 = satisfied, 5 = very satisfied).
The authors concluded that CTR using the SX-One MicroKnife and ultrasound guidance was safe, resulted in a high degree of patient satisfaction, and produced statistically and clinically significant improvements in validated patient reported outcomes (QDASH, BCTQ-SS and BCTQ-FS) by the first follow-up at 1-2 weeks post-CTR. Patients continued to improve throughout the 3-month follow-up period. Furthermore, bilateral simultaneous CTRs using the SX-One MicroKnife and ultrasound guidance are feasible and may provide significant advantages in selected patients who are candidates for bilateral CTR.