Carpal tunnel decompression
What is carpal tunnel decompression surgery?
Carpal tunnel decompression surgery is a procedure used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition in which the median nerve in the wrist is compressed.
What happens during carpal tunnel decompression surgery?
During the surgery, the carpal ligament is cut to relieve pressure on the nerve and allow it to heal.
This procedure can be done with traditional open surgery or with endoscopic techniques.
The wound should be kept clean and dry for two weeks and protected with a soft bandage.
The benefits of carpal tunnel decompression surgery include reduced pain and improved nerve function.
The patient is normally awake for the procedure and this would be conducted in Day Surgery.
How long does it take to recover from carpal tunnel decompression surgery?
Following the surgery, patients may experience improved function in the affected hand and relief from pain, tingling, and numbness.
Early use of the fingers and hand are encouraged, but heavy manual labour should be avoided until the wound has fully healed and hand strength has returned.
Once the wound has healed, the scar should be massaged with E45/Nivea cream or similar.
Recovery time is typically just a few weeks and includes physical therapy to regain strength and motion.