Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release in Visakhapatnam

Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause severe hand and wrist pain and reduced hand mobility. Our orthopedic specialist in Visakhapatnam specializes in Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release that allows faster recovery. Consult our expert Carpal Tunnel Syndrome doctor in Visakhapatnam.

Surgery Type

Recovery Days

Hospital Days

Age Group

Open Carpal Tunnel Release

2 - 6 Weeks

1 day

Any age

Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release

1-3 Weeks

1 day

Any age

About Carpal Tunnel

Carpal tunnel syndrome, also known as median nerve compression, is a condition which affects the hand. The median nerve is located on the palm side of your hand which is also known as the carpal tunnel. The median nerve is responsible for providing sensation to the thumb, the index finger, and parts of the ring finger. The nerve is responsible for the muscle going to the thumb. Carpal tunnel syndrome is usually accompanied by sensations of pain, tingling, burning or swelling in the palm of the hands and may extend to the first three fingers of the hand and the thumb.

Overview

know-more-about-Carpal Tunnel Syndrome-treatment-in-Visakhapatnam

Carpal Tunnel Surgery Incision

Incision in open carpal tunnel release surgery is about 2 inches.
In endoscopic carpal tunnel release, the doctor makes two incisions of half-inch each

Restrictions after Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Avoid lifting things heavier than 0.5 to 1 kg and overusing your hand for about 2 weeks.
Avoid doing repeated arm or hand movements, and activities like typing or using a computer, or chopping food.
Avoid activities that cause vibration in the hand.

Carpal Tunnel Surgery- Endoscopic vs Open Surgery

Incision size- Size of open carpal tunnel surgery incision is usually 3 to 4 cm. Endoscopic carpal tunnel incision size is approximately 1 cm, which is much smaller.
Blood loss- Due to the smaller incisions, there is minimal blood loss in case of endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery.
Recovery Period- Recovery period after endoscopic carpal tunnel release is much smaller as compared to open surgery.
Risks and complications- Risk of infection, complications, hand pain and scar tenderness is higher following an open surgery as compared to endoscopic surgery.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Management

Wearing a wrist splint to put it in a neutral position
Ultrasound therapy
Oral corticosteroids
Local steroid injections
Anti inflammatory medications
Surgery

Frequently Asked Questions

Can carpal tunnel go away without surgery?

If diagnosed early, when the symptoms are not too severe, and the condition is beginning, carpal tunnel syndrome can be managed with medicines and carpal tunnel exercises. It takes over six months to manage carpal tunnel syndrome pain without surgery. However, surgery is definitely required for patients with severe pain and symptoms.

Does massage help carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms?

Massage therapy is among the most effective and affordable treatments for early-stage carpal tunnel syndrome. During the massage, the therapist performs deep tissue therapy to release adhesions, trigger points and tension in the affected region. For carpal tunnel, massage is performed on the neck, shoulder and arm.

Do you massage the wrist with heat or ice?

Most carpal tunnel experts agree that heat massage works better to relieve carpal tunnel pain than ice. While ice can provide momentary relief, heat ultimately promotes healing by increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation in the area.

Why are carpal tunnel symptoms worse at night?

At night we are still, and so is the tissue fluid in the arms as the muscle pump is inactive at this time. Due to this, the amount of tissue fluid in the carpal tunnel increases as well and leads to increased pressure in the carpal tunnel area. Hence, the pain gets worse at night.

Is carpal tunnel syndrome related to arthritis?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is not a kind of arthritis. However, it can occur as a result of arthritis. This is because arthritis causes swelling in the wrist and tendons of the carpal tunnel and bony spurs in the wrist bones around the carpal tunnel.

Can carpal tunnel syndrome be caused due to typing?

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused due to repetitive motion of the wrist and arms. Typing increases the risk of a repetitive strain injury, which can compress the median vein and nerve and lead to CTS.

Can CTS happen in children?

In children, the chances of carpal tunnel syndrome occurrence are very rare. CTS can only occur in children due to inherited conditions such as lysosomal storage disease, which causes inflammation in the joints.

Can carpal tunnel affect the entire arm?

In severe stages, the pain from carpal tunnel can radiate up to the entire arm and the shoulder and even the neck in rare cases.

Are there any diseases that can be misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome?

CTS is often misdiagnosed as it exhibits symptoms similar to other conditions like arthritis, wrist tendonitis, repetitive strain injury (RSI) and thoracic outlet syndrome, such as tingling, pain numbness, hot-or-cold sensations, and difficulty in gripping stuff.

What are the warning signs of carpal tunnel syndrome?

If you have any of the following symptoms, you may have carpal tunnel syndrome. Consult the best orthopedic surgeons in Visakhapatnam if you are experiencing any of the following warning signs of CTS:

Swelling in the fingers
Muscles at the base of the thumb become smaller
Pain and weakness radiating from the wrist to the arm
Pain and tingling getting worse at night

Is carpal tunnel surgery painful?

Endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery is performed under local anesthesia. It is a minor surgery that is entirely painless. Open surgery causes more pain compared to endoscopic surgery.

What is the cost of carpal tunnel surgery in Visakhapatnam?

The average cost of carpal tunnel release surgery in Visakhapatnam is around INR 35,000-INR 55,000. This is the average cost of the package and can easily vary depending on a lot of other factors such as the severity of the condition, technology used, hospitalization fees, etc.

Will I have any pain after carpal tunnel release surgery?

Patients may experience pain for 7-10 days after the surgery. The pain may be incisional or pillar pain. Incisional pain is around the operative site, while pillar pain occurs in the transverse carpal ligament, which takes longer to heal. Postoperative pain can be managed by pain medicines, wrist massage, and physical therapy.

How long does carpal tunnel surgery take?

Carpal tunnel surgery does not take over 15-20 minutes per hand. The patient spends around 45-60 minutes in the operation theater for the entire procedure before being moved to recovery.

What does the recovery for carpal tunnel release surgery depend on?

The recovery for carpal tunnel release surgery depends on how long the patient had the condition and what kind of procedure they had. If the nerve had been compressed for a long time and the patient had open surgery, then it would take much longer to heal. It also depends on your dominant hand and what kind of work they do.

How soon can I go back to work after carpal tunnel surgery?

If the surgery is on the dominant hand and the patient has to perform repetitive motions such as typing and assembly-line work, then they can go back to work in 6-8 weeks
however, if it is on their non-dominant hand and they don’t need to perform repeated motions, they can go back to work in 7-10 days.

Can carpal tunnel syndrome lead to permanent disability?

Carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to permanent nerve and muscle atrophy if not treated in time. In some cases, the damage is irreversible even after surgery. Connect with the best orthopaedic surgeons in Visakhapatnam for the best carpal tunnel treatment near you through Pristyn Care.

Will I be awake during carpal tunnel surgery?

The surgeon can perform the surgery under general or local anesthesia depending on the patient’s condition and the surgeon’s preference. If the surgery is performed under local anesthesia, you may be awake, but you won’t feel any pain during the surgery.

Why is carpal tunnel syndrome more common in pregnant women?

Pregnant women often have more hormonal changes that affect fluid retention in their bodies which can lead to compression of the median nerve. If you think you might have pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome, you should consult your doctor and seek treatment immediately.

What are the major risk factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome?

Risk factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome are:-

People with small carpal tunnels hereditarily are more likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome.
Women are three times more likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome, especially during pregnancy due to constant hormonal fluctuations.
Patients between the ages of 40 and 70.
Wrist injury including sprained and fractured wrists.
Frequent exposure of hands to extreme temperatures.
Medical conditions such as overactive pituitary gland, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, etc.
Delayed complication of improperly managed Colles’ fracture.
Repetitive movements of hands or wrists.

What are the stages of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)?

There are three stages in carpal tunnel syndrome:

Stage 1- Mild symptoms

In the initial stage, most patients only feel numbness and tingling sensation. The condition is usually reversible in this stage. Symptoms most observed during this stage of the disease are:

Numbness or tingling of the palm and thumb, and fingers
Clumsiness- dropping things
Pain extending up to the elbow
Loss of finger coordination of the fingers in one or both hands
Weak grip

Stage 2- Moderate symptoms

Most people start noticing the symptoms of carpal tunnel in this stage, and hence it is the stage in which most people are diagnosed. The patients begin experiencing symptoms during the day as well as night and start having difficulty with everyday tasks such as getting dressed, holding small objects, driving, etc.

Stage 3- Severe symptoms

In the severe stage, the patients lose muscle function due to muscle atrophy. Symptoms during this stage include constant numbness and pain. In rare cases, the patient may not have complete muscle function even after surgery.

Complications of carpal tunnel release surgery

Endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery is extremely safe, but in rare cases, it can be associated with certain complications such as:

Excessive bleeding
Infection
Injury to the median nerve to the surrounding blood vessels
Sensitivity to postoperative scar

The complications are much more prevalent in open surgeries or if the condition has gone untreated for a longer period of time. Recovery may take from a few weeks to a few months, and the patient needs to be very careful about the surgical site in this period.

Physiotherapy for carpal tunnel surgery

After carpal tunnel release surgery, if the patient does not follow proper rehabilitation and physiotherapy, then the recovery will take much longer. Physiotherapy helps avoid the build-up of scar tissue in the operated region and opens up the tunnel in the wrist to allow proper wrist function. It also helps regain a complete range of motion for the wrist. In addition to physiotherapy, patients should also wear assistive devices such as thumb splints to encourage recovery.

Common carpal tunnel syndrome exercises to follow after carpal tunnel surgery are:

Fingertip touching: Hold up your hand, with palm side up and touch your thumb with each fingertip in both directions to complete a full cycle. Perform this exercise 3 to 5 times.
Wrist flexion and stretch: Extend your arm with the wrist flexed at a 900 angle. Pull the wrist back by the other hand. Hold this position for 10-30 seconds 5-6 times for each hand.
Tendon gliding: Hold your hand straight up and bend your fingers at a 900 angle towards the first knuckle while keeping the fingers together. Then, bend them towards the second knuckle, then form a fist. Then open the hand and repeat the action 5-10 times.

Why undergo carpal tunnel syndrome treatment at Pristyn Care?

Pristyn Care is among the best surgery providers in Visakhapatnam in association with the best orthopedic hospitals in Visakhapatnam. Our patients are very important to us, and to ensure their maximum care and comfort, we provide several facilities, including:

Pristyn Care has the best orthopedic surgeons in Visakhapatnam on its panel who are experts in providing successful carpal tunnel treatment to patients without any complications.
We provide affordable endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery at the best orthopedic clinics in Visakhapatnam without compromising the quality of the treatment.
We follow rigid COVID safety standards at all our treatment centers to ensure that our patients and their attendants are safe from coronavirus.
We provide complete insurance support and help the patients with filing insurance claims.
We provide cab and meal facilities to all patients on the day of the surgery.

How to book an appointment for carpal tunnel release surgery in Visakhapatnam through Pristyn Care?

You can book an appointment with the best orthopedic surgeons near you at Pristyn Care by:

Download our patient care app and look through our doctor database, and book your appointment based on your symptoms.
Call the number on the top of our page and talk to our care coordinator to book an appointment at your convenience.
Fill in the ‘Book an Appointment’ form and our care coordinators will promptly reach out to you to book your appointment.

Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release in Visakhapatnam

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