OP
If the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome do not show the desired improvement with conservative therapy, surgery may be necessary. This also aims to reduce the pressure in the carpal tunnel. The good thing about this operation is that it is a very minor procedure, which can usually be performed under local anesthesia.
This means that patients are not exposed to the risk of a general anesthetic and can return home the same day. Through a minimally invasive procedure, which the surgeon performs through a 0.5-1cm incision, the carpal tunnel is widened by either loosening the ligamentous apparatus around it, or by cutting a specific ligament and thus removing the pressure from the carpal tunnel. This minimally invasive procedure greatly reduces the risk of infection and leaves the patient with a barely visible scar.The operation can also be performed open, leaving a larger scar.
After the operation, the hand has to be bandaged for 7-10 days, in rare cases the doctor may decide to apply a plaster cast for a short time. It is important that the fingers are moved directly after an operation to avoid stiffening or similar problems. It is not uncommon for the doctor to prescribe physiotherapy after the operation to support the healing process. These articles cover very similar topics:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome exercises
- Exercises after the operation
- Carpal tunnel surgery
Summary
Overall, physiotherapy for carpal tunnel syndrome is still the therapy of choice. Through a variety of treatment options and exercises, which patients can also perform at home, it is usually possible to relieve the pressure from the constricted nerve, so that the affected persons can continue their everyday life without complaints after the completed physiotherapy treatment. Of course, the cooperation and discipline of the patient is very important to ensure that the success of the therapy is not jeopardized.
