Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

About Carpal Tunnel

This condition is a result of median nerve compression at the wrist. The median nerve is an important nerve that supplies sensory and motor function to the hand. Often, as a result of repetitive overuse, trauma, pregnancy, diabetes, thyroid disease and other medical conditions the nerve can become compressed within the carpal canal. When the nerve is compressed symptoms will result and include pain in the wrist, hand and forearm which can be aggravated with use, numbness or tingling in the hand and weakness or clumsiness of the hand. Initial treatment for this condition is a wrist splint, anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injection and activity modification. In cases that do not respond to medical treatment or in cases where the nerve compression is severe the recommended treatment is a surgical procedure to decompress the median nerve.

The Procedure

At Regional Orthopedics this can be done as an ambulatory procedure with local anesthesia through a small 1 inch incision over the volar aspect of the wrist. The recovery time is typically a few weeks during which time routine activities to remain independent can be performed.