Risks

Every surgery carries risks. The risks of carpal tunnel surgery include:

• Infection, which may require antibiotics



• Stitch abscess which usually resolves on its own



• Stiffness – all fingers in the hand may swell, making it difficult to make a fist, or move the wrist back and forth. If you have arthritis, you are at increased risk. Most patients recover full movement by the 2-week mark, but if you are still stiff at this point, you may need to see a hand therapist or physiotherapist



• Scarring and scar sensitivity – the hand has a very dense concentration of sensory receptors, meaning the scar may be painful to light touch. The treatment for this is desensitization therapy. This is usually not permanent but may take 6-12 months to resolve. We make every effort to suture the wound in such a way as to minimize scarring, but there is always a risk the scar will heal unpredictably, becoming thickened or unsightly



• Pillar pain – this is a dull achy pain at the base of the wrist. It is pain which lasts longer than 6 weeks, usually worse with maximal wrist extension. It is due to internal scarring and resolves with scar massage and ultrasound therapy. It may take 6-12 months to resolve, and is more noticed in active patients

Nerve injury – this is an incredibly rare complication, and occurs when the median nerve is injured during surgery. If this happens, it may lead to chronic pain, paralysis, permanent numbness, or loss of function



• Incomplete recovery of symptoms – in situations where the carpal tunnel is advanced, the symptoms may not always recover after surgery. Numbness may be permanent, and in situations of constant numbness before surgery, may take 6-12 months or longer to recover. When there is muscle loss, this is typically permanent


Although there are risks to every surgery, the vast majority of patients experience significant relief and improvement in their quality of life after carpal tunnel surgery.