Carpal Tunnel Release in Super‐Elderly: Safety Profile and Clinical Outcomes

Background The clinical outcomes of carpal tunnel release (CTR) for carpal tunnel syndrome in patients over 80 years old remain controversial. This study was performed to review the functional outcomes and patient satisfaction of CTR in the super‐elderly at a tertiary hospital compared with a younger control group over a 5‐year period. Methods Forty hands in 37 patients who underwent CTR between 2016 and 2020 were included in this retrospective review—18 hands in the super‐elderly group (aged > 80 years) and 22 hands in the control group (aged 50–54 years). Outcome measures included complication incidence, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire scores, patient satisfaction, and grip strength assessment. Background parameters and outcomes were obtained from patient and hand therapy records. Results The mean follow‐up duration was 49.3 months. No major complications, including wound infections, occurred in either group. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of pillar pain, scar pain, mean power grip and pinch grip strength, percentage of symptom improvement, satisfaction scores, or willingness to undergo surgery again. While no significant difference was found in the mean Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptom Severity Scale, the mean Functional Status Scale was significantly worse in the super‐elderly group ( p = 0.003), across all eight sub‐questions. Conclusion CTR is safe in the super‐elderly, with no clear evidence of inferior clinical outcomes compared with younger patients.