Carpal tunnel syndrome surgery at Spire Thames Valley Hospital

At Spire Thames Valley Hospital, we take pride in providing a high standard of private hospital care to our patients in the Thames Valley, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Windsor areas. Our highly skilled surgeons have wide experience in performing carpal tunnel release surgery. We provide fast access to diagnostic tests, scans and treatment, with expert aftercare that’s designed to help you get back to normal as soon as possible.

At Spire Thames Valley 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 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

We’re only a 10 minute drive from both the M4 and M40 motorways and we’re less than half an hour from central London by train. 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

Carpal tunnel release is a day procedure, meaning you’ll be able to go home on the same day. The operation takes around 20 minutes.

On the day of your surgery:

• There will be a chance to meet your anaesthetist and surgical team
• You’ll be given a local anaesthetic to block any pain in your hand and wrist
• Your surgeon will make an incision to reach the ligament that runs across your wrist – they’ll cut through this using the technique explained 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: