Update on surgical procedures for carpal tunnel syndrome: What is the current evidence and practice? What are the future research directions?

Table 1 Advantages of surgical options (risk of hypertrophic or hypersensitive scar formation should be considered secondary, despite temporary discomfort for the patients)

Advantages of open release	Advantages of endosopic release
Good outcomes	Good outcomes
Low complication rates	Low complication rate (slightly better the open release)
Mini-incision: best approach and better patients’ satisfaction	Better esthetic results (much smaller scars)
Reduced revision surgery rate	Reduced risk for hypertrophic or hypersensitive scar formation
Better visualization of structures	Reduced postoperative hand pain
Safest approach for neurovascular structures	Reduced recovery time
Possibility to use a mini-incision approach	Quicker return to work
Possibility to perform epineurotomy and flexor tenosynovectomy	Reduced costs and resources