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Surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome
By Mayo Clinic staff
Your doctor may suggest surgery for your carpal tunnel symptoms if you experience:
- Persistent numbness and pain
- Diminished strength in gripping and pinching
- Muscle wasting in your hand
Carpal tunnel surgery cuts the transverse carpal ligament. Severing the ligament is like cutting a rubber band wrapped over a rolled-up newspaper. It allows the carpal tunnel to expand, relieving pressure on the median nerve and thereby reducing or eliminating carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.
Two main types of carpal tunnel surgery are widely available. One variety, called open-release, uses an incision large enough to expose the carpal tunnel anatomy for direct viewing and surgical adjustment. The other variety, called endoscopic or arthroscopic surgery, uses one or two very small incisions to insert instruments and a tiny camera. Surgeons watch what they're doing on a video monitor.
Open-release surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome Nonsurgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: Pros and cons
