In some cases it does not completely relieve the numbness and pain in the fingers or hand. This may be the case if there has been permanent nerve damage caused by long-standing carpal tunnel syndrome or by underlying conditions such as diabetes.
The two kinds of surgery are:
- Endoscopic carpal tunnel release may allow faster functional recovery and less postoperative discomfort than the other one. The doctor make two incisions in the wrist and palm, inserts a camera attached to the tube, observes the tissue on a screen and cuts the carpal ligament.
- Open carpal tunnel release is the traditional procedure used to correct carpal tunnel syndrome. It consists of making an incision up to two inches in the wrist and then cutting the ligament to enlarge the carpal tunnel. This procedure is generally done under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, unless there are unusual medical considerations.
