{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,25]],"date-time":"2026-03-25T09:20:55Z","timestamp":1774430455335,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":58,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,25]],"date-time":"2026-03-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774396800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Effective management of carpal tunnel syndrome requires balancing therapeutic efficacy with procedural safety. Traditional acupotomy, while minimally invasive, is limited by its dependence on non-visualized techniques that can lead to inaccurate anatomical targeting and potential complications. Ultrasound guidance overcomes these limitations by enabling real-time visualization of key anatomical structures during the procedure. This approach facilitates precise, targeted release of the transverse carpal ligament while minimizing risks to neurovascular tissues. This perspective outlines the theoretical basis, clinical evidence, and practical implementation of ultrasound-guided acupotomy. Available data suggest this method enhances functional recovery while improving patient experience through greater procedural transparency. The integration of imaging guidance provides a pathway toward standardizing this minimally invasive intervention. Further validation through rigorous clinical studies and the establishment of structured training protocols will support its appropriate integration into clinical practice for carpal tunnel syndrome management.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2026.1785342","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,25]],"date-time":"2026-03-25T06:50:08Z","timestamp":1774421408000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Ultrasound-guided acupotomy: a paradigm shift toward precision and safety in carpal tunnel syndrome therapy"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Hai-kun","family":"Wang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics, Shenzhen Pingle Orthopedic Hospital (Shenzhen Pingshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital)","place":["Shenzhen, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jian-cheng","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics, Shenzhen Pingle Orthopedic Hospital (Shenzhen Pingshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital)","place":["Shenzhen, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Guo-hui","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics, Shenzhen Pingle Orthopedic Hospital (Shenzhen Pingshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital)","place":["Shenzhen, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Da-quan","family":"Yan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopedics, Shenzhen Pingle Orthopedic Hospital (Shenzhen Pingshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital)","place":["Shenzhen, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Feng-tao","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ultrasound, Shenzhen Pingle Orthopedic Hospital (Shenzhen Pingshan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital)","place":["Shenzhen, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e40145","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.40145","article-title":"An integrated review of carpal tunnel syndrome: new insights to an old problem.","volume":"15","author":"Omole","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cureus."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.2174\/1874325001206010069","article-title":"Carpal tunnel syndrome: a review of the recent literature.","volume":"6","author":"Ibrahim","year":"2012","journal-title":"Open Orthop J."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1177\/1753193411419952","article-title":"Socioeconomic deprivation and the epidemiology of carpal tunnel syndrome.","volume":"37","author":"Jenkins","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Hand Surg Eur Vol."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1177\/1558944718787892","article-title":"Comparison of the short-term and long-term effects of surgery and nonsurgical intervention in treating carpal tunnel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","volume":"15","author":"Shi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Hand."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1142\/S1013702518500087","article-title":"Effectiveness of surgical versus conservative treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome: a systematic review, meta-analysis and qualitative analysis.","volume":"38","author":"Klokkari","year":"2018","journal-title":"Hong Kong Physiother J."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"142","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ctcp.2019.07.002","article-title":"Clinical effectiveness and safety of acupotomy: an overview of systematic reviews.","volume":"36","author":"Kwon","year":"2019","journal-title":"Complement Ther Clin Pract."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e948970","DOI":"10.12659\/MSM.948970","article-title":"Comparative study of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection with acupotomy release versus injection alone in carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.","volume":"31","author":"Tao","year":"2025","journal-title":"Med Sci Monit."},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"906109","DOI":"10.3389\/fsurg.2022.906109","article-title":"Ultrasound-guided percutaneous release procedures in the transverse carpal ligament by acupotomy: a cadaveric study.","volume":"9","author":"Zhou","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Surg."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"CASE22543","DOI":"10.3171\/CASE22543","article-title":"Iatrogenic median and ulnar nerve injuries during carpal tunnel release: clinical, electrodiagnostic, and ultrasound features in 12 patients. 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