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Orthopedics · Hand and wrist

Carpal tunnel surgery

Do your fingers tingle at night and is your grip getting weaker? When symptoms persist and limit you, surgery relieves the pressure on the nerve in the wrist. At HR Clinic it is a small procedure under local anesthesia. If everything is in order, it can take place as soon as within a week of the consultation.

Book an orthopedic consultation How the procedure works
  • No referral from a general practitioner needed
  • Operated by Prof. MUDr. Radek Hart

Small procedure under local anesthesia

1 weekthat is how soon the procedure can take place
anesthesia
localonly the hand is numbed, general anesthesia is not needed
until procedure
1 weekfrom the consultation, if everything is in order
procedure takes
20 minusually, under local anesthesia
back to activities
1 monthis how long the return to everyday activities usually takes

When surgery is considered

Tingling, numbness and a weak grip

Carpal tunnel syndrome means compression of a nerve in the wrist. The tunnel is formed by the wrist bones and a ligament that closes it from above. When the space inside narrows, it presses on the nerve (median nerve), which carries sensation to the thumb and the first fingers.

  1. Symptoms mainly at night

    Numbness, tingling, burning or pain in the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers. It often wakes you from sleep. Shaking out the hand may bring relief.

  2. Weakness and clumsiness of the hand

    Buttons are harder to do up, things drop from your hand, the grip with your thumb weakens. The tingling can also spread up the forearm toward the shoulder.

  3. It starts gradually

    At first the symptoms come and go, then they gradually last longer. Without treatment they get worse over time in most people, so it makes sense to come early.

  4. Who is at higher risk

    People who are overweight, who are pregnant, whose work involves bending the wrist, a strong grip or vibrating tools, who have arthritis or diabetes, who have had a wrist injury, or who have a family history.

Diagram of a cross-section through the wrist: on the left a narrowed tunnel with a compressed nerve, on the right the nerve has more room after the ligament is cut Before: nerve is compressed After: nerve has more room
  • ligament that forms the roof of the tunnel
  • nerve (median nerve)
  • finger flexor tendons
  • wrist bones
Simplified diagram of a cross-section through the wrist, not an actual image.

When to operate

When surgery makes sense

Surgery frees the nerve that is compressed in the wrist. Whether and when to operate is decided by the doctor at the consultation.

Symptoms

Symptoms are getting worse

When tingling and weakness limit you.

  • Tingling and numbness last longer and get worse
  • The symptoms wake you from sleep
  • The grip with your thumb weakens and things drop from your hand

Findings

The nerve is at risk

When permanent nerve damage is a risk.

  • Permanent numbness of the fingers or wasting of the muscles at the thumb
  • Surgery protects the nerve from permanent damage

Goal

More room for the nerve

A small procedure under local anesthesia.

  • Through a small incision in the palm, the doctor cuts the ligament that forms the roof of the tunnel
  • This widens the tunnel and the pressure on the nerve eases
  • If the nerve was badly damaged, strength returns more slowly, so it makes sense to come early

Not sure whether surgery is right for you? The examination will decide. Book a consultation

How the procedure works

From booking to going home

A small procedure under local anesthesia. Through a small incision in the palm, the doctor cuts the ligament that forms the roof of the tunnel. This widens the tunnel and the pressure on the nerve eases.

  1. Booking

    Online or by phone. A referral from a general practitioner is not required.

    online or by phone

  2. Consultation and examination

    Prof. Hart examines your hand and wrist. If the diagnosis is not certain, he recommends a nerve conduction study or an ultrasound.

    diagnosis and treatment plan

  3. Procedure

    Under local anesthesia, only the hand is numbed. The procedure usually takes about 20 minutes.

    within a week of consultation

  4. Going home

    You go home as soon as everything is in order. You then keep the hand raised and move your fingers so that swelling and stiffness do not develop.

    follow-up and physiotherapy

Recovery and physiotherapy

Nights get better first

After the procedure, expect mild pain, swelling and stiffness. Sensitivity of the palm can last several weeks to months. If needed, we follow up with physiotherapy right at the clinic.

Room of the short-stay ward at HR Clinic

  1. The first week

    Night-time symptoms improve markedly in most patients within about the first week after the procedure.

  2. About a month

    That is how long the return to everyday activities usually takes. When you can go back to work depends on how much the work strains your hand.

  3. Grip strength after 2 to 3 months

    If the nerve was badly damaged before surgery, strength may take 6 to 12 months to return and in very severe cases may not return fully.

Prof. MUDr. Radek Hart, Ph.D., FRCS, MHA

Who operates

Prof. MUDr. Radek Hart, Ph.D., FRCS, MHA

Specialist in orthopedics and traumatology of the musculoskeletal system, head physician of HR Clinic. He sees patients in Znojmo and in Vienna; after a Vienna consultation the procedure can be performed in Znojmo.

More about Prof. Hart Professional website ortho-hart.at

Price We will tell you the price of the procedure at the consultation, depending on the findings and the scope of the procedure.

Frequently asked questions

What patients ask most often

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Will the procedure hurt?

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so the hand is numb. Afterward you may feel pain, swelling and stiffness for a few days; mild sensitivity of the palm can last weeks to months. It is usually managed with ordinary pain medication.

Do I need a referral from my general practitioner?

No. Just book online or by phone.

How soon can I have the procedure?

If everything is in order, the procedure can take place as soon as within a week of the consultation. We arrange the date based on the result of the examination.

When is it better not to wait with the examination?

When the symptoms get worse, numbness of the fingers persists or the muscles at the thumb waste away. Surgery then protects the nerve from permanent damage. If the nerve was badly damaged before surgery, the return of grip strength may take 6 to 12 months.

Booking

Book an orthopedic consultation

Online or by phone, at the clinic in Znojmo. A referral from a general practitioner is not required.

Book a consultation
Book a consultation