carpal tunnel decompression, carpal tunnel release surgery

The carpal tunnel syndrome appears when the median nerve, which runs through the wrist, becomes compressed.

The median nerve courses along the hand and arm from the tip of the fingers to the brachial plexus. At the wrist the nerve runs through the carpal tunnel. If this tunnel narrows, pressure is applied on the nerve, which causes pain, numbness and discomfort.

Reasons for the carpal tunnel to narrow can be various:

  • related to illnesses such a diabetes, hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis
  • pregnancy
  • overweight
  • repetitive movement of the wrist (such as typing, playing musical instruments etc)

The carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms may be:

  • numbness, pain, tingling and/or weakness in the wrist or hand (especially in the thumb, index finger and middle finger)
  • pain that occurs with moving the wrist
  • growing pain at night
  • extending symptoms to the elbow and shoulder

The carpal tunnel decompression is performed if the symptoms are repetitive or the pain becomes disturbing and is not subject to conservative therapies. It is a simple surgery during which the transverse carpal ligament is cut and the pressure on the median nerve is released.