Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery; Everything You Need to Know

Carpal Tunnel Surgery After Care

The doctor usually puts the treated wrist into a bandage or a splint for a period of 2 weeks to allow healing. After this, may schedule another appointment with the patient, where it will be removed and the healing progress assessed. While the wrist is splinted into a bandage, the patient is still encouraged to move their fingers and make light movements around their hand to prevent any stiffness. This also promotes the blood supply and accelerates healing. Since there is a chance of slight swelling in the area after the surgery, it is generally advised to keep the operated arm elevated, especially as the patient sleeps.

After 1 or 2 weeks, when the patient is called back for the removal of the splint, they may then be advised to start physiotherapy for the affected wrist. The physiotherapist may assess your wrist and start calling you for regular appointments. They will educate you about the risk hand movement that needs to be made and how this will heal and strengthen your wrist. Even though it is common to have the splint removed after two weeks, some patients may require it to be placed for a longer time. This can go up to one or several months.

The patient is also advised to take it easy at work, especially after the splint removal. They may not continue practicing the same repeated movement, whether it is for typing or other forms of work, that caused the condition in the first place.

References

1. Zhang, D., Collins, J. E., Earp, B. E., & Blazar, P. (2017). Surgical Demographics of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Over 5 Years at a Single Institution. The Journal of hand surgery, 42(11), 929.e1–929.e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.07.009
2. Zuo, D., Zhou, Z., Wang, H., Liao, Y., Zheng, L., Hua, Y., & Cai, Z. (2015). Endoscopic versus open carpal tunnel release for idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 10, 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-014-0148-6
3. Osei, D. A., Calfee, R. P., Stepan, J. G., Boyer, M. I., Goldfarb, C. A., & Gelberman, R. H. (2014). Simultaneous Bilateral or Unilateral Carpal Tunnel Release? A Prospective Cohort Study of Early Outcomes and Limitations. The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume, 96(11), 889–896. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.M.00822
4. Rhee, P. C., Fischer, M. M., Rhee, L. S., McMillan, H., & Johnson, A. E. (2017). Cost Savings and Patient Experiences of a Clinic-Based, Wide-Awake Hand Surgery Program at a Military Medical Center: A Critical Analysis of the First 100 Procedures. The Journal of hand surgery, 42(3), e139–e147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2016.11.019