Carpel tunnel syndrome is
a painful condition of the wrist and hand. It is caused by
pressure on the medial Nerve. This happens when tissues in
the carpel tunnel such as ligaments and tendons get swollen
or inflamed. This causes pain and can make your hand feel
numb.
It is said that doing the same hand movements repetitively
can lead to carpel tunnel syndrome. If your work involves repetitive
movements of the hand, you are at higher risk of developing
carpel tunnel syndrome.
Your may also experience pain in your
forearm and have difficulty gripping objects.
If the symptoms
persist , surgery can be performed to alleviate this condition.
It is performed by our Orthopaedic Surgeon.
It is a fairly straightforward
procedure performed under local anaesthetic and there is
no need to stay overnight at the hospital.
The main objective
of the surgery is to relieve the pressure on the medial nerve.
Carpel tunnel surgery can be perfoemd as an “ open” procedure
or endoscopically. Your Surgeon will discuss the options with
you at consultation to decide the most appropriate method for
your condition.
The advantage of endoscopic surgery is that
the recovery is generally faster with les post operative discomfort.
Following surgery the Surgeon may suggest some rehabilitation
of the wrist to help it gain strength once more.
It can take
some time after surgery for the wrist to return to normal although
many Patients experience relief immediately after surgery.
If
you have work which does involve repatative hand movements
you may nee to consider future work options although most patients
recover completely from this condition.
Carpal tunnel release
is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United
States. Generally recommended if symptoms last for 6 months,
surgery involves severing the band of tissue around the wrist
to reduce pressure on the median nerve. Surgery is done under
local anesthesia and does not require an overnight hospital
stay. Many patients require surgery on both hands. The following
are types of carpal tunnel release surgery:
Open release surgery, the traditional procedure used to correct
carpal tunnel syndrome, consists of making an incision up
to 2 inches in the wrist and then cutting the carpal ligament
to enlarge the carpal tunnel. The procedure is generally
done under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, unless
there are unusual medical considerations.
Endoscopic surgery may allow faster functional recovery and
less postoperative discomfort than traditional open release
surgery. The surgeon makes two incisions (about ½" each)
in the wrist and palm, inserts a camera attached to a tube,
observes the tissue on a screen, and cuts the carpal ligament
(the tissue that holds joints together). This two-portal
endoscopic surgery, generally performed under local anesthesia,
is effective and minimizes scarring and scar tenderness,
if any. One-portal endoscopic surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome
is also available.
Although symptoms may be relieved immediately after surgery,
full recovery from carpal tunnel surgery can take months.
Some patients may have infection, nerve damage, stiffness,
and pain at the scar. Occasionally the wrist loses strength
because the carpal ligament is cut. Patients should undergo
physical therapy after surgery to restore wrist strength.
Some patients may need to adjust job duties or even change
jobs after recovery from surgery.
Recurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome following treatment
is rare. The majority of patients recover completely.
Free Consultation - the
next step
The next step is to arrange a free
private consultation with our Mills & Mills Orthopaedic
Surgeon at a centre
near you. This is easy to do. Simply call us on the
number provided and we will do the rest. We will be happy
to chat with you on the phone and answer any questions
that you might have. We know how important this procedure
is to you. It is our aim to provide you with a service
second to none.
We look forward to hearing from
you.
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