Carpal tunnel surgery

Carpal tunnel surgery
Indication of the site of the problem in carpal tunnel syndrome.
SpecialtyOrthopedic surgeon

Carpal tunnel surgery, also called carpal tunnel release (CTR) and carpal tunnel decompression surgery, is a nerve decompression in which the transverse carpal ligament is divided. It is a surgical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and recommended when there is constant (not just intermittent) numbness, muscle weakness, or atrophy, and when night-splinting no longer controls intermittent symptoms of pain in the carpal tunnel.[1] In general, milder cases can be controlled for months to years, but severe cases are unrelenting symptomatically and are likely to result in surgical treatment.[2][3] Approximately 500,000 surgical procedures are performed each year, and the economic impact of this condition is estimated to exceed $2 billion annually.[4]

  1. ^ Hui, A.C.F.; Wong, S.M.; Tang, A.; Mok, V.; Hung, L.K.; Wong, K.S. (2004). "Long-term outcome of carpal tunnel syndrome after conservative treatment". International Journal of Clinical Practice. 58 (4): 337–9. doi:10.1111/j.1368-5031.2004.00028.x. PMID 15161116. S2CID 12545439.
  2. ^ Kouyoumdjian, JA; Morita, MP; Molina, AF; Zanetta, DM; Sato, AK; Rocha, CE; Fasanella, CC (2003). "Long-term outcomes of symptomatic electrodiagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome". Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria. 61 (2A): 194–8. doi:10.1590/S0004-282X2003000200007. PMID 12806496.
  3. ^ Louie, Dexter (September 2012). "Long-term outcomes of carpal tunnel release: a critical review of the literature". Hand. 7 (3): 242–246. doi:10.1007/s11552-012-9429-x. PMC 3418353. PMID 23997725.
  4. ^ Palmer DH, Hanrahan LP. Social and economic costs of carpal tunnel surgery. Instr Course Lect. 1995;44:167-72. PMID 7797856.