Identification and Preservation of Palmar Cutaneous Nerves During Open Carpal Tunnel Release

We looked for crossing cutaneous nerve branches during standard open carpal tunnel release and attempted to preserve them. Open carpal tunnel release was performed on 34 hands in 29 patients. Crossing cutaneous nerves were identified in 47% of hands and successfully preserved in each case. No patient experienced postoperative pillar pain or scar hypersensitivity.