Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a compression median nerve neuropathy at the wrist. Surgical treatment of distal radius fracture (DRF) might expose patients to developing CTS.
Objectives: To assess the feasibility and success rate of open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) for patients with symptomatizing CTS secondary to DRF fixation.
Patients and methods: 17 patients were evaluated preoperatively and 1,4,6,8 and 12-wk postoperative (PO) using the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) and the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder & Hand (DASH) Questionnaire. Surgeries were performed as day-case surgery through mini-volar incision (1-inch) along the radial border of the extended ring finger. The study outcome is the reduction of pain scoring and improved physical function (PF) scores by >50% at 4-wk after surgery relative to preoperative scores.
Results: All surgeries were performed uneventfully with improved PO scores of the assessed items. At 8-wk PO, SF-MPQ increased significantly (P<0.001), while BCTQ scores increased insignificantly (P=0.529) in comparison to 4-wk scores. PF scorings decreased insignificantly (P=0.130), but mental function scores were significantly (P=0.0155) lower at 8-wk than at 4-wk PO. Total PROMIS score and DASH questionnaire scorings decreased significantly (P=0.0019 and 0.0001, respectively) at 8-wk than at 4-wk PO. 
Conclusion: OCTR for symptomatic CTS secondary to DRF through small volar incision is safe and efficient approach in terms of improvement of pain, functional and mental scorings of patients with no procedure-related complications.