Carpal tunnel release

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I K L M O P R S T U V

Carpal tunnel syndrome Surface anatomy - normal palm Surface anatomy - normal wrist Wrist anatomy

Overview Recovery Risks

Carpal tunnel release

Carpal tunnel release is successful in improving strength and decreasing pain in about 85% of properly selected patients. It more reliably resolves pain and nerve tingling/numbness than 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.

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