Good Morning.

A recent meta-analyses of 1,800 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome in JBJS Open Access finds that carpal tunnel release is more likely than corticosteroid injection to result in functional improvement and treatment success, particularly in the 6-12 month range.

In today's edition:

🏥 Operation vs. injection: carpal tunnel syndrome

📰 The latest tech on show at AAOS 2026

🎙️ Creativity, Paisley Park & the history of OE

Hand & wrist specialists are not unfamiliar with the dilemma between choosing carpal tunnel release or corticosteroid injection for persistent symptomatic cases of carpal tunnel syndrome. While several randomized trials have compared the two treatments, evidence is often contradictory and there is a real need for a meta-analysis of the current literature to help settle the debate. This study aimed to fill this gap in knowledge.

This meta-analysis of 12 RCTs, including 1,799 patients, aimed to compare carpal tunnel surgery and corticosteroid injection over a range of outcomes including treatment failure, function, and symptoms improvement.  

• While no differences in treatment failure rate were reported at 1, 3, or 6 months, meta-analyses revealed significantly greater failure rates at 1 year in the corticosteroid group.

• No differences in function improvement up to 6 months post-treatment were observed between the two groups.

• Carpal tunnel release was associated with better functional improvement at 6 and 12 months compared to corticosteroid injection.

Bottom line. Carpal tunnel release, according to the randomized trial data, provides a lower chance of treatment failure and greater functional improvement than corticosteroid injection for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Read the full ACE Report on this study here.

The AAOS 2026 conference just kicked off in New Orleans this week, and the major orthopaedic manufacturers have brought out the latest orthopaedic innovations poised to transform clinical practice.

Stryker recently introduced the latest additions to its Triathlon Total Knee System, expanded its Mako SmartRobotics platform and advanced its power tools portfolio.

Meanwhile, Smith + Nephew featured handheld robotics and digital solutions for hip, knee and shoulder in addition to innovative trauma and extremities products, including CORI SHOULDER Robotic Shoulder Arthroplasty,  the LEGION Total Knee Medial Stabilized System, and the TRIGEN MAX Tibia Nailing System.

Read more about the developments in both companies here and here.

For the first time ever, Dr. Mohit Bhandari and Dr. Marc Swiontkowski met up in real life to cover the latest in orthopaedics over a cup of joe.

This episode was particularly special: Dr Bhandari reminisces on the inception and trajectory of OE over the last few years, some of the recent evidence tools being developed at OE, and the role of creativity in his life and orthopaedics (including a visit to Paisley Park)!

Watch the full podcast here.

Chevron vs. Scarf Osteotomy for Hallus Valgus: A Meta-Analysis – In patients with hallux valgus deformity requiring surgical correction, how does scarf osteotomy compare to chevron osteotomy with respect to the change in hallux valgus angle, change in intermetatarsal angle, and clinical outcomes? (Read)

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Hydrotherapy for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Meta-Analysis – In patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, can hydrotherapy result in the improvement of pain, function, and cardiorespiratory outcomes compared to standard of care? (Read)

The Importance of Active Exercise in Treatment of Tendinous Mallet Finger – In adult patients with closed, nonbony tendinous mallet finger injuries treated within 2 weeks of injury, does management with K-wire fixation compared with thermoplastic splinting results in similar DIP joint extension, extension lag, and functional scores at 16 weeks? (Read)

Thanks for reading!

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