Endoscopic carpal tunnel release has been reported to offer the advantages of reduced pain and complications, and to allow a rapid return to work. It was, therefore, introduced as an alternative to open carpal tunnel release. With this in mind, we analyzed changing pillar pain after endoscopic carpal tunnel release.

We analyzed 22 patients (35 cases) who were treated by endoscopic carpal tunnel release, and followed for over l year, from November 1999.

According to Cseuz's criteria, 27 cases were excellent and 5 were good. Levine's Symptom Severity Scale improved from 35 preoperatively to 14 postoperatively.

While endoscopic carpal tunnel release was confirmed to offer the advantages of reduced pain and palmar scarring, there seemed to be no difference in the clinical results compared with the open method. Therefore, endoscopic carpal tunnel release may be a useful method if it is done skillfully and carefully. However, even in the case of endoscopic release, pillar pain remains a problem. Long term results need to be examined to evaluate recurrence.