Transverse carpal ligament reconstruction with polyesterurethane patch for prevention of recurrence in therapy of failed primary carpal tunnel surgery.

A small group of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can present recurrences and persistent symptoms of CTS after its surgical release. If recurrence is due to scarring between median nerve and surrounding tissue (true recurrence of CTS, transverse carpal ligament [TCL] reconstruction with transposition flap technique is available but it presents poor results. This 48-year-old woman presented a recurrence of CTS 3 months after open standard incision. At operation, a scar was detected that did not permit normal median nerve gliding during wrist movements. External neurolysis restored normal gliding and non-absorbable polyesterurethane patch was used to reconstruct TCL. At 2-year follow-up the patient was in good health and returned to her manual usual job without pain and sensitive and motor deficits. Implantation of unresorbable poliesterurethane patch for TCL reconstruction after external neurolysis appears to be more advantageous than TCL reconstruction with transposition flap technique because it takes little time, causes minimal adhesion formation, does not need of wide incision and provides the same favourable conditions of the transposition flap as mechanical stabilization of the tranverse carpal arch, prevention of bowstringing of the flexor tendons, increase of postoperative grip strength and good protection of the median nerve. However, more cases should be studied before considering TCL reconstruction with poliesterurethane patch as a useful option in secondary surgery of true recurrence of CTS.