If medication, physical therapy and lifestyle changes have not relieved pain associated with carpal tunnel or if there is nerve or risk of nerve damage then surgery may be the best treatment option. The goal of carpal tunnel release surgery is to reduce the pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. Our neurosurgeons are specialized to treat carpal tunnel utilizing both open and endoscopic techniques and will determine the best technique for your individual condition. Both techniques are outpatient procedures, involve cutting of the transverse carpal ligament to enlarge the carpal tunnel and will almost always require rehabilitation therapy following surgery.
Minimally Invasive Technique
- Local anesthetic to the wrist and hand
- Neurosurgeon makes a small incision to the wrist.
- Through the incision a specially designed knife (KnifeLight) with a light is inserted. This light guides the neurosurgeon as they cut the transverse carpal ligament.
- The incision is stitched.
- Hand and wrist is bandaged to prevent movement during the healing process.
Open Technique
- Local anesthetic to wrist and hand
- Neurosurgeon makes an approximate 2” incision into the wrist
- Via this incision the transverse carpal ligament is cut.
- The incision is stitched
- Hand and wrist is bandaged to prevent movement during the healing process.
Some patients will feel immediate relief following surgery but often full relief will take months including rehabilitation.
In addition to being trained to reduce the pressure on the median nerve our neurosurgeons are trained to remove abnormal tissue or growths (tumors) that place pressure on the median nerve.
