Carpal tunnel release under local anesthesia: evaluation of the outpatient procedure.

In 100 consecutive cases of carpal tunnel release done under local anesthesia in an outpatient ambulatory care operating room, 93 had satisfactory results at 6 months without any complications. Two patients developed a neuroma of the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve, and five showed early signs of reflex sympathetic dystrophy. These complications are discussed, as well as the prevention of other complications of this procedure.