Treatment begins with a consultation with your experienced specialist Consultant Plastic Surgeon, who will assess your condition and answer all of your questions about surgery.
Carpal Tunnel Surgery At A Glance
Time
from 45 minutes
Price
from £1450 and £195 consultation
Treatment
Surgery with a Consultant
Recovery
1-2wks initially (6wks final results)
Do
Elevate wrist, keep dressing dry
Don't
Overuse hand / wrist, heavy lifting
Carpal Tunnel Surgery in Leeds
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition affecting up to one in twenty people.
Pressure on one of your nerves as it passes through your wrist can cause pain, numbness and tingling in your hand, wrist and arm.
Whilst some patients see improvement from resting or splinting their wrist or having steroid injections, some need a surgical procedure to relieve the pressure on the affected nerve.
At Skin Surgery Clinic we have a number of experienced Consultant Plastic Surgeons who carry out this treatment with no waiting list.
Carpal tunnel syndrome surgery
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
This is a common condition caused by the compression of a nerve to the hand at the level of the wrist.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms often begin gradually. They often starting by waking the sufferer up at night with a numb hand or numb fingers, pins and needles or pain. It usually affects the middle finger, index finger and thumb. In the early stages, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can come and go, but often progresses over time.
If left untreated, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can cause permanent numbness and thumb weakness. However, if surgery is performed, worsening nerve damage is often prevented and nighttime symptoms can be quickly reversed.
What causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve, which controls feeling and movement in part of the hand. The median nerve travels down your arm, through your wrist and into the thumb and fingers.
The 'Carpal Tunnel' is a narrow passage in your wrist, which is made up of small bones and a tough band of tissue which pull the tendons that bend the fingers. If the band off tissue presses onto the median nerve at this point, it can cause the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
It isn't fully understood why the median nerve becomes compressed in this way. However, some things do increase the risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
- a family history of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- fluid retention from pregnancy or the menopause
- wrist injury
- other health conditions, such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid problems or high blood pressure
- repetitive strain injury of the hand
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is more common in women and becomes more likely as you age.
What are my options for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome treatment?
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be treated using splints in the early phase, or by steroid injection or surgery when the condition has worsened.
Steroid injections aim to reduce the swelling in the tissues around where the median nerve passes into the hand. It will take a few weeks to find out whether the injections have helped to improve your symptoms.
Surgery is performed at Skin Surgery Clinic under local anaesthetic through an incision near the middle of the inside of the wrist.
What happens during the surgery?
A local anaesthetic is applied and an incision is made into your wrist and base of your hand, on the palm side.
Your surgeon will then cut a ligament that crosses the place where your nerves enter your hand. This immediately releases the pressure on the median nerve.
The incision will be carefully stitched and dressed, and you can leave the clinic straight afterwards.
A Nurse will check your dressings one and two weeks after the surgery. Sutures are removed at two weeks after surgery, when the wound is healed.
How long does it take for Carpal Tunnel Surgery to work?
Once the pressure on the median nerve has been removed, the nerve can start to return to normal function. You may feel benefits straight away, though it is normal for full recovery to take some weeks or months.
There will be some pain and swelling from the surgery itself, and you will wear a dressing to protect the wrist in the first two weeks after surgery.
When can I go back to work?
Most people can return to light activity and work around a week after treatment, longer for those carrying out manual work.
Some stiffness and swelling may remain a while longer. It normally takes 2-3 months for full recovery.
Your recovery time for the sorts of activities you carry out can be discussed in more detail in your initial Consultation, to help you plan ahead for your surgery.
Are there any complications of Carpal Tunnel Surgery?
Complications are unusual from this procedure. Your wrist will be dressed to help avoid infection, and our nursing team will give you full aftercare instructions.
There is a small chance of recurrence of the condition which often happens many years after surgery.
Hand therapy might be needed to optimise the results of surgery.
We will discuss all the pros and cons of surgery in your Consultation, which will take place with the Consultant Plastic Surgeon who would carry out your procedure if you proceed to treatment.
Considering this procedure?
Carpal Tunnel Surgery Treatment prices
All procedures are carried out by a Consultant Plastic Surgeon.
| Consultation with Consultant | £195 |
| Consultation including first Steroid Injection | £320 |
| Additional Steroid Injections | £250 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery | from £1450 |
