Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery
What is a Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome involves the feeling of pain, pins-and-needles or weakness that is caused by compression of the median nerve. The median nerve travels through a narrow passage in the wrist called the carpal tunnel. The nerve supplies the first three-and-half fingers in your hand, so you may notice that the sensations are distributed along these fingers.
What is Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery?
Carpal tunnel release surgery involves cutting and boarding the carpal tunnel to release the pressure on the median nerve. Surgery is performed once other non-invasive methods to control carpal tunnel syndrome have failed.
How do I prepare for the procedure?
Prior to the clinic visit, the clinic will request you to undertake a nerve conduction study to evaluate the function of the nerves in your hand.
Please bring the results of these investigations to your consultation with Dr Perera as it will help determine the management plan and reduce the number of clinic visits you need to attend before booking the procedure.
Alternatively, Dr Perera’s clinic can organize nerve conduction studies prior to your consultation.
The Procedure
Carpal tunnel release surgery is performed usually under general anaesthesia. Sometimes others type of anaesthesia can be used. The procedure done as day surgery and you can go home on the same day.
A tourniquet is placed around the hand. Your surgeon will make a small incision (2-3cm) along your palm and wrist to expose the transverse carpal ligament (flexor retinaculum), which forms the roof of the carpal tunnel. The ligament is then cut to relieve pressure on the median nerve.
Over time, the cut ends of the ligaments will reconnect due to scar tissue formation. This lengthens the length of the flexor retinaculum and prevents compression of the median nerve.
The procedure takes 30 minutes. You can be discharged from the hospital on the same day. There will be a pressure bandage over the hand this can be removed after 24-48 hours. The skin sutures can removed after 10-14 days.
