Carpal tunnel surgery releases the median nerve at the wrist by cutting the tight ligament that forms the roof of the carpal tunnel. It is one of the most common hand operations.
It reliably stops night time tingling and numbness. Where the nerve has been compressed for years, lost sensation and wasted thumb muscle may only partly recover.
What Carpal Tunnel Surgery involves
The hand is numbed with local anaesthetic injected into the palm and wrist. In open release, a cut of 2 to 4 cm is made in line with the ring finger at the base of the palm. The fat and the thin palmar fascia are parted to expose the transverse carpal ligament, which is divided along its full length under direct vision while the nerve and its small motor branch to the thumb are protected. The nerve is checked, the skin alone is stitched and a soft dressing is applied with the fingers left free. In endoscopic release a small camera and blade are passed under the ligament through a 1 cm wrist crease cut, and the ligament is divided from inside.
Who is a good candidate for Carpal Tunnel Surgery?
It is offered when symptoms are confirmed as carpal tunnel syndrome and have not responded to splints or a steroid injection, or when nerve tests show significant damage.
- Numbness in the thumb, index and middle fingers that wakes you at night
- Symptoms lasting more than 3 to 6 months despite a night splint
- Nerve conduction tests showing moderate or severe compression
- Weakness or wasting at the base of the thumb
It is usually not the right choice if:
- Tingling caused by a trapped nerve in the neck rather than the wrist
- Mild symptoms in pregnancy, which often settle after delivery
- Hand numbness from diabetic neuropathy alone
- Untreated thyroid disease or inflammatory arthritis driving the swelling, which should be treated first
الخيارات التقنية
- Open release: The standard method with a short palm incision; lets the surgeon see the nerve directly.
- Endoscopic release: Smaller scar and slightly quicker return to work; needs specific equipment and experience.
- Ultrasound guided release: A newer needle or thread technique offered in some centres; long term data are still limited.
ماذا يحدث خلال علاجك
The procedure takes 15 to 25 minutes, normally under local anaesthetic with a tourniquet on the upper arm, which feels tight. You are awake, feel pushing but not sharp pain, and leave an hour or so later with a bandaged hand.
الإعداد لرحلتك
Plan for 3 to 5 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.
- Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
- Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
- Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
- Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly
التعافي والنتائج
Move the fingers from day one and keep the hand raised for 2 to 3 days. Stitches are removed at 10 to 14 days. Light use and typing are possible within a week, driving at about 1 to 2 weeks, and heavy gripping at 6 weeks. The scar and the heel of the hand can be tender for 2 to 3 months. Night symptoms often go within days.
- Back to everyday activity: 1 to 2 weeks for light work
- When results show: Night symptoms ease within days
- How long they last: Permanent in most people; recurrence is uncommon
سياسة السلامة والمخاطر والتنقيح
Serious problems are rare, but minor ones are fairly common.
- Tender scar and pillar pain either side of the incision for some months
- Wound infection
- Incomplete relief if the ligament was not fully divided or the nerve was badly damaged
- Injury to the median nerve or its branches, which is rare
- Temporary grip weakness
- Complex regional pain syndrome with swelling and stiffness, uncommon
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of Carpal Tunnel Surgery in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Carpal Tunnel Surgery, because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- Open or endoscopic technique
- One hand or both
- Local anaesthetic versus sedation
- Nerve conduction studies if you have not had them
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
الأسئلة المتكررة
Can both hands be done at once?
It is possible, but you will struggle with washing and dressing for a week or two. Most surgeons prefer to leave 2 to 4 weeks between hands.
Do I need nerve tests first?
They are strongly advised. They confirm the diagnosis, show how severe it is and give a baseline if symptoms persist.
Will my numbness go completely?
Intermittent tingling usually goes quickly. Constant numbness present for a long time recovers slowly over months and sometimes incompletely.