Slocum Launches MISSION Carpal Tunnel Study
Carpal tunnel releases are the most common procedure any hand surgeon preforms. The approach to release however, differs greatly across the country. Carpal tunnel releases were exclusively preformed with an open approach until 1987, when the endoscopic release was presented as a newer option. With the hallmarks of smaller incisions and quicker recovery time, endoscopic carpal tunnel releases (ECTRs) started to gain traction among hand surgeons. While open is still the most commonly employed technique, surgeons at Slocum prefer using the endoscopic method.
Sonex Health, a medical device company, introduced a new approach to carpal tunnel releases using ultrasound guidance (CTR-USs). They posit that CTR-US allows for quicker return to activities of daily living and allows for the procedure to be preformed in an office based setting, decreasing the cost of care to the patient. Their newest study tilted Registry of the Patient Experience for Carpal Tunnel Release (MISSION), aims to compare the three methods of carpal tunnel release with the hopes of naming CTR-US as a surgical option that can be considered by hand surgeons in the future.
We will prospectively enroll 52 patients presenting with carpal tunnel syndrome and follow them for two years to assess their outcomes. Time points of participation occur pre-operatively, at the time of procedure, and post-operatively at 1-7 days, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 month, 6 month, 1 year, and 2 years. Participants will complete questionnaires of their outcomes including a numeric pain scale, EQ-5D-5L health questionnaire, and scales assessing their functional status and symptom severity.
MISSION is a multi-site study and involves participation of hand surgeons across the United States. Dr. Jenna Godfrey serves as the Principal Investigator for Slocum's site and will be collecting patient outcomes for ECTR patients only. She is very excited about participation in the study, as the results could have large implications on the future of carpal tunnel surgery.