Patient Information Leaflet : Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Printer friendly versionWhat is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition where there is increased pressure on the median nerve. The median nerve runs across the front of your wrist through a tight tunnel, together with the tendons which bend your fingers.
The symptoms are often worse at night. If in doubt your surgeon may recommend further tests to confirm the diagnosis (nerve conduction studies). Carpal tunnel syndrome is more common in women than men and is sometimes associated with arthritis, pregnancy, wrist fractures, diabetes or thyroid problems. However, for most sufferers there is no particular cause.
What Are the Treatment Options?
If your symptoms are mild, a wrist support worn at night often helps. A steroid injection near the carpal tunnel can reduce the numbness or pain in most people, but the symptoms usually come back after several weeks or months. If the symptoms are severe, or these simple treatments have failed, surgery is usually recommended. If the compression of the nerve is severe and you do not have any treatment for a long time, the nerve may become permanently damaged. This makes some of the muscles at the base of your thumb waste away and you may get permanent numbness in your hand.What does the operation involve?
You should remove any rings from your hand before you come into hospital. A carpal tunnel release can usually be performed under local anaesthetic and usually takes about 15 minutes. Your surgeon will make a small cut in the palm of your hand. He will then cut the tight ligament (called the flexor retinaculum) which forms the roof of the carpal tunnel (see below). This stops the nerve being compressed.At the end of the operation your surgeon will close the skin with stitches.
What are the possible complications?
The healthcare team will make your operation as safe as possible. However, complications can happen.Pain :The cut is normally small and not too painful. You may need simple painkillers.
Bleeding during or after surgery. This is not usually serious but can occasionally cause a painful swelling (haematoma) which takes a week or two to settle
Infection in the surgical wound (there is a risk of 1 in 20). This usually settles with antibiotics
Scarring of the skin. However, as the cut lies in one of the skin creases, the scar usually becomes almost invisible over time.
Continued numbness in your thumb, index and middle fingers, caused by damage to the median nerve or one of its braches before or during the operation. This can be temporary (there is a risk of 1 in 100) or permanent ( there is a risk of 1 in 600).
Tenderness of the scar. This is common for the first six weeks after surgery.
Return of numbness and pain, which is caused by scar tissue which forms after the operation (there is a risk of 1 in 17). If this happens you may need a further operation to release the nerve again.
Severe pain, stiffness and loss of the use of the hand (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome). This is rare and the cause is not known. If this happens you may need further treatment including painkillers and physiotherapy. The hand can takes months or years to get better.
How soon will I recover?
- in hospitalAfter the operation you will be transferred to the recovery area and then to the ward. You will have a bandage on your hand and may have to wear a sling. You should be able to go home within two hours.
- returning to normal activities
you should keep your hand lifted up and bandaged for the first couple of days. It is important to gently exercise your fingers, elbow and shoulder to prevent stiffness. After the first couple of days the dressing can be reduced but you should keep the wound clean and dry until any stitches are removed, usually after 8-10 days. You can drive after two days.