ABSTRACT
Anatomic structures in the hand and wrist lie in close proximity
to each other and are critical for precise functioning of the upper
extremity. Therefore, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in this
region of the body is of particular interest because of the desire
to restore hand function as quickly as possible after a surgical
procedure. Oftentimes, the pain, discomfort, and other
morbidity associated with surgery are due to the surgical
dissection to access the area of interest rather than from the
procedure itself. As such, decreased surgical trauma and tissue
disruption will lead to decreased postoperative pain and
swelling, shorter recovery period, and a faster return to activi-
ties of daily living. These advantages not only benefit patients,
but also the health care system because most procedures can be
done on an outpatient basis; and when required, hospital stays
are usually shorter than those for traditional open procedures.
