A procedure to relieve pressure on the median nerve in the wrist to alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms.
The procedure is performed through a small incision at the base of the palm, dividing the ligament that forms the roof of the carpal tunnel to relieve pressure on the median nerve. It is usually done under local anaesthetic, sometimes with light sedation, and typically takes fifteen to thirty minutes.
Diagnosis is usually confirmed with a nerve conduction study before surgery. Because the procedure is typically done under local anaesthetic, preparation is generally straightforward, though fasting instructions may still apply if sedation is used, and arranging transport home is recommended.
A bulky dressing or light splint is often worn for the first few days. Most people can use the hand for light activities within days, with heavier gripping and lifting introduced gradually over the following weeks as the wound heals and discomfort settles.
Gentle finger and wrist movement is encouraged early to reduce stiffness. Grip and pinch strengthening exercises are introduced as the wound heals and comfort allows, with most patients returning to normal hand use over several weeks. Formal hand therapy is not always needed but can help in more involved cases.
Risks include infection, incomplete relief of symptoms, and, rarely, injury to the nerve itself. Some patients experience tenderness over the scar for a period afterward, and while most people improve significantly, a small proportion have residual symptoms, particularly if nerve compression was long-standing before surgery.
The aim is to relieve the numbness, tingling and weakness caused by median nerve compression. Most patients notice improvement in sensory symptoms fairly quickly, often within weeks, while grip strength recovers more gradually. Outcomes tend to be best when surgery is performed before significant muscle wasting has developed.
Carpal tunnel release is a common, generally straightforward day surgery procedure that relieves pressure on the median nerve. Most patients experience good, often rapid relief of numbness and tingling, with grip strength recovering more gradually over the following weeks.
