So you need carpal tunnel surgery and are not sure what it entails. If you have chosen to have the surgery done at Outpatient Services East the staff wants you to understand what will be taking place. The following will give you a brief explanation but know the staff at OSE wants you to give them a call if you have any questions before or after your procedure.

Carpal tunnel surgery is sometimes called carpal tunnel release or carpal tunnel decompression surgery. The surgery is needed when the transverse carpal ligament is divided. A mild case can be controlled for months, maybe years, but if severe and the symptoms are unrelenting most likely it will take a surgical treatment to correct. A severe case would be when there is constant numbness, muscle weakness, or atrophy. When it is this severe splinting will no longer give your relief.

Carpal tunnel syndrome most often develops gradually. They often improve if when you stop or change the activity that are causing the condition. In mild cases of carpal tunnel syndrome there is improvement with treatment.

If carpal tunnel surgery is needed it usually takes less than an hour. It is rare for carpal tunnel syndrome to recur but it can even after surgery has been done. If is important that you let your doctor know if you suspect a recurrence.

Your surgeon may use open surgery, endoscopic tunnel release, or a procedure called thread carpal tunnel release:

Open Surgery: With open surgery an incision about and inch or two in length will be made in the palm of your hand. The skin and subcutaneous tissue is divided through this incision.

Endoscopic techniques for carpal release involve one or two smaller incisions which are both less than half an inch. The instrumentations used are a synovial elevator, probes, knives, and an endoscope. They are used to visualize the underside of the transverse carpal ligament. This method does not divide the tissues or the palmar fascia as much as the open method does. Studies have been done to see what procedure is best. Many surgeons have embraced  limited incision methods. Your surgeon will discuss with you what type of surgery he feels will be the best choice for you.

Thread carpal tunnel release: The thread carpal tunnel release is a minimally invasive procedure for transecting the transverse carpal ligament  by sewing a piece of thread looped percutaneously under the guidance of ultrasound. The surgery is performed under local anesthesia in a clinic based procedure room. There is only one needle entry point at the palm and one needle exit point in the wrist. The technique ensures that the division happens only inside the loop of the thread around the transverse carpal  ligament without injuring adjacent tissues. The features of the procedure includes the potentials of reduced risk of iatrogenic injury, reduced surgical cost, and reduced patient recovery time.

For more information about carpal tunnel surgery contact the medical staff at Outpatient Services East. They will ensure you understand the procedure you and your doctor have decided will be best for you.
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