The standard surgical procedure for carpal tunnel release has been very effective in restoring patients to their prior activities but slow recovery and a scar on the palm are major drawbacks to the traditional method. The two-inch scar on the palm often remains sensitive to direct pressure for approximately six-to-eight weeks postsurgery. However, new minimally invasive techniques allow a surgeon to successfully complete a surgery with only a half-inch incision in the wrist.
Endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery is performed on an outpatient basis utilizing a local anesthetic to numb the arm. After the procedure, a splint is applied to the wrist and the patient is discharged and allowed to go home. Within a week, the splint is removed, a temporary wrist splint is applied and hand rehabilitation is initiated.