Peer-reviewed research

Surgical treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome (Cochrane review)

Scholten RJ, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2007

Read on October 16, 2026

What it is: A Cochrane systematic review of randomised trials comparing surgical techniques for carpal tunnel syndrome, with outcomes for symptom relief, return to work or daily activities, and complications. The search was updated in 2006.
How much weight it carries: Cochrane review, the highest tier of systematic evidence. It pools only three trials with 294 participants for the return-to-work outcome, and the surgical techniques and follow-up were not uniform. The author list is abbreviated here, so check the full author list on the Cochrane page.

Facts taken from this source

In three trials with 294 participants, endoscopic carpal tunnel release led to earlier return to work or daily activities than open release, by a weighted mean difference of 6 days.
“endoscopic carpal tunnel release resulted in earlier return to work or activities of daily living than open carpal tunnel release, with a weighted mean difference of -6 days (95% CI -9 to -3 days)” (Main results)