Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Surgical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome is two-fold and directed at decreasing pressure. First, what is commonly done is to open the thick band over the carpal tunnel also known as carpal tunnel release. The band is called the volar carpal ligament or also referred to as flexor retinaculum.

An analogy would be removing a bottle cap from a bottle of soda. This relieves the pressure. Some surgeons do the procedure through a small scope (endoscopically).

Others, including myself, do an open procedure. A small neat incision is made in the wrist. Under direct visualization, the ligament is opened. It also allows me to take care of the second aspect - the thick lining called the flexor synovium. I remove the flexor synovium lining in the carpal tunnel. I believe the real offender in carpal tunnel syndrome is the flexor synovium -- opening the ligament and removing the lining relieves pressure and creates more space.

Results are quite good and definitive. The incision is small and neat and cosmetically acceptable. The operation is a same day procedure - the individual goes home the same day. The individual can be awake. Medication is injected into the arm to "freeze" the hand and wrist or directly into the wrist area to numb the area. Full recovery is 2 to 4 weeks depending on level of activity.

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