Hand – carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is also known as compression of median nerve.
Why would you need the procedure?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common nerve compression syndrome. The syndrome manifests in deficits in the area innervated (supplied) by the median nerve, which provides both sensory and motor functions. The median nerve provides sensory innervations for the most important and the largest part of the hand, and motor innervations of the protruded muscle in the root of the thumb on the palmar side (the opponens pollicis muscle).
When would you need the procedure?
A longer duration of the syndrome and compression of the nerve can cause unnecessary discomforts, more severe nerve injury, slower recovery after a procedure and generally reduced odds of successful surgical treatment. It reduces work capacities of patients causing a negative individual and socioeconomic impact.
What does the procedure include?
Median nerve decompression (releasing pressure) is an efficient and safe procedure which mostly relieves all symptoms in a patient. It is claimed in literature that the success rate of the surgical procedure is over 95%, with complications below 3%. The procedure is performed by applying the endoscopic approach in local, regional or under general anaesthesia.
How to get prepared?
Special preparations for the procedure are not necessary. The duration of the recovery is between 0 to 3 months. The major part of the symptoms would disappear immediately after the surgery while other would disappear after 2-6 months, especially if the nerve was compressed for a longer time.
Related tests and examinations:
Recommendation by an orthopedic surgeon or other physician and laboratory tests.
