The contents of the carpal tunnel are best exposed by inserting
forceps into the carpal tunnel making sure that the ulnar artery is
medial to the forceps and the median nerve is lateral to the forceps. NOTE: If you do not isolate the nerve and artery you will most certainly cut them.
Then cut through the flexor retinaculum down to the forceps exposing the median nerve and
tendons as shown. At this time, you should review the contents of the
carpal tunnel.
By flexing the wrist, you can bowstring the flexor tendons to clean the
lumbricals. Then dissect the muscles of the thenar
(flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis) and
hypothenar (flexor digiti minimi brevis, abductor digiti minimi, opponens digiti minimi)
compartments.
