Carpal Tunnel Surgery or Carpal Tunnel Release, is a surgery done on the hand to relieve symptoms from carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the compression of the median nerve in the wrist. It often becomes noticeable as pain or numbness in the wrist, hand, fingers or forearm.
Typically, surgery is considered if the patient has been diagnosed and treated for carpal tunnel syndrome, but has not gotten adequate relief. Usually, a patient that is a candidate for surgery will also have abnormal Electrodiagnostic Studies that show moderate or severe carpal tunnel syndrome.
Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery is an outpatient procedure. A small incision is made at the base of the palm. The thick tissue that surrounds and pushes on the median nerve is split. This provides more space for the nerve and is usually very effective at relieving the symptoms. The patient cannot use the hand for strenuous activities for several weeks after the surgery.