Carpal tunnel syndrome surgery at Spire Hartswood Hospital

Spire Hartswood Hospital is a well-established provider of private hospital treatments to patients across Essex and the South East. We have dedicated surgeons who are highly experienced in carpal tunnel release techniques. You can expect to receive fast diagnosis and expert treatment, with personalised aftercare that will help you get back to your normal routine as quickly as possible.

At Spire Hartswood Hospital, our consultants have extensive experience of performing carpal tunnel release surgery in our clean, modern facilities.

Our consultants offer open release surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. During surgery, your consultant will make an incision (cut) so they can see inside your wrist and cut the transverse carpal ligament.

We also offer minimally invasive techniques, which have been developed to help you heal faster, but may not be suitable for everybody. If your surgeon thinks it’s right for you, they may perform:

• Endoscopic release – a camera is used to see inside your wrist so one or two smaller incisions (cuts) can be used
• Percutaneous release – a minimally invasive technique using ultrasound to guide your consultant instead of a camera

Getting here

At Spire Hartswood Hospital, we’re very easy to reach from the A12, A13 and M11, based just 25 miles from London Stansted Airport and 20 miles from central London. You’ll have free on-site parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultations

You’ll be able to have your first appointment within a few days of your enquiry. Your surgeon will examine your wrist, ask about your symptoms and discuss your medical history. They may also talk about other treatments you could try before deciding on surgery if you haven’t already, such as painkillers and wrist splints.

Your consultant will tell you more about what carpal tunnel surgery involves, including:

• Tests you may need beforehand such as a nerve conduction test or an ultrasound scan
• What the procedure involves
• The anaesthetic (which is usually local)
• Risks and complications of surgery

The operation takes around 20 minutes and you’ll be able to go home on the same day.

When you arrive for surgery:

• You’ll meet your surgical team and anaesthetist
• You’ll have a local anaesthetic (so you’ll be awake but won’t feel any pain)
• Your surgeon will make a small incision and then cut through the ligament that lies across the front of your wrist – they’ll use the technique you agreed during your consultation

Everyone’s different, so how long it takes to recover from your surgery will depend on your general health and how severe your carpal tunnel syndrome is.

Your consultant will be able to tell you more about your expected recovery, but here’s a typical recovery timeline for carpal tunnel surgery: