Physiological observations in the median nerve during carpal tunnel surgery

Abstract In entrapment of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, it has been claimed that release of the flexor retinaculum is accompanied by immediate improvement in conduction time across the caarpal tunnel segment. We observed no such immidiate changes in conduction time intraoperatively in eight subjects following retinaculum release or neurolysis. Neurolysis led to conduction block in some median nerves, cating doubt on the value of that procedure.