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Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) affects more than 12 million Americans and is often associated with high social and economic costs. Compression or irritation of the median nerve can cause pain, numbness, tingling and sometimes weakness in the hand and arm. Severe or persistent cases may be treated surgically by performing a carpal tunnel release (CTR) during which the transverse carpal ligament (TCL) is transected to relieve pressure on the median nerve. Traditional CTR procedures have included open and endoscopic CTR.