During open carpal tunnel release surgery, the transverse carpal ligament is cut. This releases pressure on the median nerve and relieves the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
An incision is made at the base of the palm of the hand. This allows the doctor to see the transverse carpal ligament. After the ligament is cut, the skin is closed with stitches. The gap where the ligament was cut is left alone. Over time, it fills up with scar tissue.
Most people who have this surgery don't need to stay in the hospital. It is usually done with local anesthetic, and you can go home on the same day.
Most people who have surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome have fewer or no symptoms of pain and numbness in their hand after surgery.
In rare cases, the symptoms of pain and numbness may come back. (This is the most common complication.) Or you may have short-term loss of strength when you pinch or grip an object. This is because the transverse carpal ligament was cut.
If the thumb muscles have been severely weakened or wasted away, your hand strength and function may be limited even after surgery.
Both endoscopic and open carpal tunnel release have benefits and risks. Studies don't show that one procedure is better than the other in the long term.
The risk and complication rates of open surgery are very low. Major problems such as nerve damage happen in fewer than 1 out of 100 surgeries (less than 1%). There is a small risk that the median nerve or other tissues may be damaged during surgery.
After open surgery, recovery may be slower than after endoscopic surgery. And there may be some pain in the wrist and hand. You may also have some tenderness around the scar. There are also the risks of any type of surgery, including possible infection and risks of general anesthesia. But most open carpal tunnel surgery is done with local anesthesia or regional block rather than with general anesthesia.
After surgery, the hand is wrapped. The stitches are removed 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. The pain and numbness may go away right after surgery or may take several months to subside. Try to avoid heavy use of your hand for up to 3 months.
How soon you can go back to work depends on the type of surgery you had, whether the surgery was on your dominant hand (the hand you use most), and your work activities.
If you had open surgery on your dominant hand and you do repeated actions at work, you may be able to go back to work in 6 to 8 weeks. Repeated motions include typing or assembly-line work. If the surgery was on the other hand and you don't do repeated actions at work, you may be able to go back to work in 7 to 14 days.
Open carpal tunnel surgery is considered when:
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