Carpal tunnel release is successful in improving strength and decreasing pain in about 85% of patients, if these patients are a good fit for the surgery. The procedure resolves pain, nerve tingling, and numbness more reliably than it resolves muscle weakness. Unfortunately, the longer the symptoms have been present, the longer the recovery time and the more variable the extent of recovery.

This surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis. Complete recovery can take anywhere from several weeks to a year, depending on the severity of damage to the nerve.

A splint may be used to reduce wrist motion for the first few days after surgery, but motion should not be delayed for too long because the wrist can become stiff.

The longer the symptoms lasted before surgery, and the more severely damaged the nerve appears at surgery, the longer the recovery time.

Images

Wrist anatomy

Surface anatomy - normal palm

Surface anatomy - normal wrist

Carpal tunnel syndrome

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Carpal tunnel release Prevention

Review Date: 11/02/2006
Reviewed By: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Reviewprovided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)