Ultrasound (US) Changes in the Median Nerve Cross‐Sectional Area After Microinvasive US‐Guided Carpal Tunnel Release

Objective To document changes in the median nerve cross‐sectional area (CSA) in the proximal carpal tunnel region after ultrasound (US)‐guided carpal tunnel release (CTR). Methods Prospective data were collected on 23 consecutive patients (37 wrists) treated with US‐guided CTR by the primary author using the same office‐based microinvasive technique. Ultrasound was used to measure the largest CSA of the median nerve in the proximal carpal tunnel region both preoperatively and postoperatively. The primary outcome measure was the change in the preoperative versus 6‐ to 10‐week postoperative median nerve CSA. Results The mean CSA of the median nerve decreased from 16.08 to 12.75 mm2 at 6 to 10 weeks after US‐guided CTR (P