Loosening of the carpal tunnel is a surgical procedure for the treatment of people with carpal tunnel syndrome. This procedure is performed according to an outpatient basis. The patient is awake during surgery, however the patient is anesthetized in order to prevent pain and increase the relaxation.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by narrowing of the carpal tunnel passage. The narrowing of the passage leads to nerve compression or impingement. This causes pain and weakness in the hand and the wrist.

Loosening of the carpal tunnel is generally performed on patients that are provided little relief or no relief after being treated with non-surgical methods. A test called EMG is performed to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the surgery to be  performed in the shortest time must be planned for the prevention of nerve damage.

• Duration of the Procedure: 1 hour or less
• Duration of Hospital Stay: It is an outpatient surgical procedure.
• The patient's recovery time before traveling to his/her country: In most cases, the patients, who want to be performed loosening the carpal tunnel surgery through health tourism, can be return to their country within 24 hours.

 

Details of the Procedure

Your surgery begins with anesthesia administration in order to prevent pain and increase relaxation. Surgical field is prepared for the procedure with a sterile drape and antiseptic liquid. Then, usually an incision about an inch in length is made in the palm.

After the first incision, the surgeon reveals the carpal tunnel carefully by making one more incision in the connective tissue just below the skin's surface. When carpal tunnel is revealed, it is loosened by cutting with scissors or a lancet.

Then the procedure is completed by suturing the skin. Carpal tunnel is left split. However, the two ends of the carpal tunnel is filled with scar (healing) tissue over time.

 

After the procedure

Your wrist is wrapped with bandages and splints after the procedure. Splints and the bandage is needed to be carried for approximately one week. You may feel some discomfort; however the patient will be prescribed analgesic medication to help to eliminate the discomfort.

Movement exercises are needed to be started to support the healing and recovery of function a week after the loosening of the carpal tunnel surgery. Specific exercises will be recommended by your physician, or professional physical therapy may be prescribed. Full recovery time after the procedure may take a few weeks up to one year depending on the severity of your carpal tunnel syndrome.

 

Results

The prognosis for the procedure of the loosening of the carpal tunnel is at a fairly good level. Thanks to this procedure the patients get rid of the pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness caused by carpal tunnel syndrome effectively. Thus, 85% of the patients underwent this surgery get rid of their symptoms. In addition, strength increase and function recovery is observed in many patients.

 

Risks and Complications

A number of risks are also in question in the loosening of the carpal tunnel as with any surgery. However, this operation is regarded as a safe and low-risk procedure. The most commonly encountered risks and complications are listed below:

• Infection
• Pain
• Incision pain
• Wound sensitivity
• Arterial damage
• Inflammation
• Hardening
• Hand or wrist weakness
• The median nerve damage of the arm
• Nerve damage
• Failure to pass the healing process as required hence the need for repeated repair procedure
• Scar (healing) tissue formation

It is advised you to discuss your surgeon immediately all kinds of concerns about these risks before or after the procedure.

 

Contact your physician in the following cases:

• Increased swelling
• Increased Pain
• Medications not providing pain relief
• Excessive or uncontrollable bleeding
• Light red bleeding from the incision
• The perceived temperature in the incision or incisions giving a warm feeling
• Flushing in or around the incision
• Foul-smelling discharge from the incision
• Arising of nausea or vomiting state
• Uncontrollable fever with Tylenol or ibuprofen
• Arising of dizziness
• Arising of headache
• Chills with muscle pain