Prophylactic carpal tunnel decompression during buttress plating of the distal radius--is it justified?

Our objective was to evaluate the role of carpal tunnel decompression in preventing median nerve dysfunction after buttress plating of the distal radius. We studied 69 consecutive patients with distal radial fractures managed by volar plating over a 4-year period. (1995-1998). Patients' clinical notes were assessed for symptoms of median nerve dysfunction and all the patients were followed up for a minimum period of 6 months. Twenty-four patients had prophylactic carpal tunnel decompression and 45 patients did not. Forty-two patients (61%) were women and 27 patients (39%) men. The average age of the patients was 56 years, (range 24-81 years). Overall 17 patients (25%) developed median nerve dysfunction post-operatively of which nine patients had and eight patients did not have formal prophylactic tunnel decompression, respectively; this was not statistically significant (P=0.08). In addition prophylactic decompressed patients had more than twice the relative odds=2.7 (confidence interval: CI=0.94-4.76) of developing median nerve dysfunction. All cases resolved spontaneously except for three cases that required carpal tunnel decompression. We conclude that prophylactic median nerve decompression does not alter the course of median nerve dysfunction and may increase post-operative morbidity.