5 hands of 5 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and thenar muscle atrophy were treated with carpal tunnel release and simultaneous opponenslasty. All patients underwent FDS transfer. The average age of the patients was 60.8 years (range; 53 to 71 years), and the average follow-up was 8 years and 5 months (range; 3 years to 15 years). The patients suffered CTS symptoms for an average of 9 years and 5 months (range; 5 years to 15 years). The average duration of thenar muscle atrophy prior to surgery was 3 years and 5 months (range; 1 year to 5 years). All patients regained functions of their hands post-operatively, but still had thenar muscle atrophy. Two patients demonstrated no reaction to electrophysiologic testing of the median nerve. We concluded that simultaneous opponensplasty should be performed for CTS patients with severe thenar muscle atrophy.
