Recurrence rate of the Paine retinaculotome carpal tunnel release in diabetic and non-diabetic patients at long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel release (CTR) is considered effective in treating carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and diabetes is considered to complicate the outcome and recovery. However, the difference in recurrence rate between diabetic and non-diabetic patients after mini-open CTR in the long-term has not yet determined.

METHODS: This study enrolled 1251 wrists (1091 patients), with 841 (67%) females and 480 (33%) males at a mean age of 58.5 years at operation. Patients were followed for a mean duration of 10.5 years. We retrospectively compared the recurrence rates of the Paine retinaculotome for mini-open CTR at wrist in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

RESULTS: In our study, a total of 161 wrists (13%) were in the diabetic patients and 1090 wrists (87%) were in the non-diabetic patients. Two wrists (1.24%) in the diabetic group and seven (0.6%) in the non-diabetic group exhibited recurrence (p = 0.325).

CONCLUSION: The mini-open CTR with the Paine retinaculotome in diabetic patients didn't show significantly higher recurrence rate than that in non-diabetic patients in the long term.