Carpal Tunnel Surgery.
Two types of Carpal Tunnel release surgery are offered: endoscopic or open.
During endoscopic surgery, the endoscope is guided through a small incision in the wrist and palm. The endoscope allows the doctor to see structures in the wrist, such as the transverse carpal ligament, without opening the entire area.
Tiny cutting tools are also inserted and used to cut the transverse carpal ligament, releasing pressure on the median nerve and relieving symptoms. The small incisions in the palm are closed with stitches, and the gap where the ligament was cut eventually fills with scar tissue.
In open surgery, the surgeon makes an incision into the palm of the hand then carefully cuts through the exposed tissue beneath. This incision reveals the transverse carpal ligament which is responsible for compressing the median nerve. The ligament is cut and the incision in the palm is sutured closed, leaving the body to again naturally rejoin the severed ends of the ligament.