Surgery has been proven to be very effective in treating carpal tunnel syndrome, a procedure termed carpal tunnel release. This procedure involves an incision in the palm of the hand and separating the “roof” of the carpal tunnel. By dividing the “roof”, the space for the nerve is increased. The pressure is decreased around the nerve as a result, leading to improvement of symptoms in the majority of cases.
The most common form of carpal tunnel release is the “open” technique. To perform this procedure, the surgeon creates a 2 – 4 centimeter incision across the middle of the palm. This procedure takes approximately 5 – 10 minutes, and can be performed under local anesthesia. The procedure can also be performed endoscopically, where a small incision is made in the wrist and in the palm, and then an endoscope is used to release the carpal tunnel.