This avoids the common surgical technique of cutting the ligament when conventional therapy is not effective. N.J. Dr. Berger presented the findings here today at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' annual meeting. The procedure is done under local anesthesia and utilizes a balloon catheter device similar to an angioplasty balloon, which is placed in a patient's vein to enlarge a narrowed artery. To relieve the pressure on the median nerve in the hand, a balloon is inserted within the carpal tunnel through a small incision in the wrist.
Saline inflates the balloon, stretching the fibers of the ligament, which is then pushed upward.
This creates space around the carpal tunnel. We were able to expand the ligament by one-third. When the balloon is removed, the ligament stays stretched. The transverse carpal ligament serves a protective purpose in the palm and is important for grip strength, Dr. Berger said. A custom-designed nerve protector protects the median nerve and flexor tendons in the carpal tunnel during balloon inflation.