Treatment Overview
Objective: To release the median nerve, which is compressed in the carpal tunnel, causing numbness and pain in the hand.
Anaesthesia: Local
Procedure duration: 15 minutes
Pain level: 2/10
Recovery time: 2 to 6 weeks
Resumption of physical activities: 6 weeks
Carpal tunnel syndrome is the compression of the median nerve in the wrist.
The median nerve is one of the main nerves of the hand. It goes through the wrist at the level of a bony canal formed by the carpal bones. This canal is covered by a ligament called the retinaculum (transverse carpal ligament). In some patients, the median nerve can be compressed in the carpal tunnel, causing numbness in the first three fingers of the hand (thumb, index and middle fingers) and sometimes weakness in some muscles of the hand. These symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable or painful, cause you to wake up at night, and have a significant impact on your quality of life.
Simple, painless surgery can be performed to sever the retinaculum of the carpus to decompress the nerve and improve the symptoms.
Dr. Boudana performs this surgery in a private clinical setting and the procedure is not covered by health insurance. As such, the patient must pay for the entire cost of the procedure.
However, please note that this procedure is one of the treatments covered by health insurance and offered in hospitals by surgeons. In this setting, the patient does not have to pay for the procedure.
The procedure
Carpal tunnel surgery is a simple procedure that lasts about 15 minutes under local anaesthesia. Dr. Boudana uses a tourniquet-free technique (no compression at the root of the limb) for the comfort of the patient. Once the area has been anaesthetized, an incision of about 2 cm to 4 cm is made at the wrist on the palmar side of the hand. The retinaculum is severed and the median nerve is released. The incision is then closed with absorbable sutures, which dissolve in about two weeks.
A light compression dressing is applied and will be removed on the second day after surgery to be replaced by a light wound dressing.
Where is the procedure performed?
Dr. Boudana only operates on patients in state-of-the-art private operating rooms accredited by Accreditation Canada. This accreditation is a guarantee that the facilities meet stringent safety and quality standards.
After surgery
After the surgery, you will receive a personalized follow-up. Our nurses will also be available and will perform all dressing changes at our clinic.
You will be given a postoperative instruction sheet when you are discharged as well as a prescription for pain medication.
Get a consultation
The consultation can take place in person at the clinic or remotely by videoconference.