Carpal Tunnel Release

Summary:

We have performed over 1500 Carpal Tunnel procedures by keyhole surgery.
This surgery is minimally invasive.
Price: up to $500 with adequate Private Health Insurance (self-pay options are available)

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

LapSurgery Australia has a minimally invasive solution to the treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and have performed over 1500 procedures by this, keyhole method. Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery makes returning to normal activities faster and less painful making it the better option than having the open method which delays return to work and is more painful.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. The median nerve supplies the sensation over most of the hand, with the exception of a small area on the little finger side.

Carpal tunnel release is also searched for as carpal tunnel surgery, endoscopic carpal tunnel release or median nerve decompression. Our Melbourne surgeons have performed over 1,500 of these procedures by the keyhole method, as a half hour day case with tiny incisions that usually need no stitches.

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Minimally invasive carpal tunnel release surgery

The open surgery for Carpal Tunnel syndrome involves quite a long incision on the palm of the hand, usually needing 6 – 8 stitches. It can take many weeks for recovery.

At LapSurgery we have been performing the minimally invasive (keyhole) technique for more than 15 years and have performed more than 1,500 of these procedures.

In the keyhole approach a small incision is made on the wrist, less than 1cm long. A further 3mm incision is made on the palm of the hand. The incisions are so small that in most cases a stitch is not required. A telescope is inserted between the incisions and the ligament squashing the nerve is divided fully under vision. In fact the vision we get is superior to naked eye vision as it is magnified in high definition on a computer monitor.

The procedure is done as a day case and takes about half an hour. It can be performed under full general anaesthetic or with just the arm numb and a mild sedation.

A bandage will be applied to the hand, but the hand can and should be used as soon after the operation as possible. Slings and plasters are not used! Bandages are removed after a few days and the hand can be used normally thereafter. There may be some swelling and tenderness for several weeks afterwards, but in most cases you can go about all but the very heaviest use of your hands with a week or two.

Relief of the nasty, sometimes painful tingling is immediate. However numbness in the tips of the fingers can take longer to resolve.

For most patients with adequate private health insurance, out of pocket costs for keyhole carpal tunnel release are up to $500. Self pay options are available for patients without private health insurance, with an estimate provided after your consultation. Full financial details are provided before you commit to surgery. The detail below explains how the costs work.

With Private Health Insurance

There is no waiting list. If you wish, your operation can usually be performed within a week or two or planned at a time of your choosing. For most patients with full private health insurance there will be some extra costs not covered by Medicare or your health fund. The cover provided by your health fund will vary according to which fund and which level of cover you have. In some cases you may have to pay an “excess”. It is your responsibility to check with your health fund prior to surgery. Full financial details will be provided to you prior to surgery unless the surgery is done as an emergency. Occasionally other tests, procedures or specialist consultations may be necessary and some other costs incurred.

Without Private Health Insurance

Public hospital waiting lists may be very long. There is no choice of surgeon in the Public Hospital and your LapSurgery Australia surgeon will not be involved in your operation.

If you do not have private health insurance, you can expect a higher out of pocket cost depending on the hospital your surgery is performed at. Following your consultation with our surgeon our staff will be able to give you an informed financial consent prior to going ahead with surgery.

Hospitals used by LapSurgery Australia for this surgery are:

Mulgrave Private Hospital – Mulgrave
Knox Private Hospital – Wantirna
Peninsula Private Hospital – Frankston
St John of God Berwick Hospital – Berwick

Risks of surgery include but are not limited to:

Damage to the nerve

This is exceptionally rare in experienced hands such as ours. On very rare occasions one of the small branches of the nerve to one or other side of one finger can be damaged giving numbness in this area. Changes to the technique introduced many years ago have virtually eliminated this possibility.

Recurrence

About 1% of patients experience recurrent symptoms or don’t get relief from the initial operation. There can be many reasons for this and any such recurrence or failure will be investigated fully. Where a repeat operation is necessary it cannot be done with keyhole surgery and a larger incision is needed.

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

This is a rare condition where continuous burning pain affects the hand. It usually resolves with time and physiotherapy.

Infection

Infection is exceptionally rare.

Delay in treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome may cause permanent damage to the median nerve

Benefits of Keyhole Carpal Tunnel Release

Minimally invasive keyhole technique
Quicker recovery and less discomfort
Day case surgery
Rapid relief of nasty night time numbness and pain
No slings or plasters
Tiny incisions, usually no stitches
Both hands can be done at the same time if necessary

Carpal Tunnel Surgery Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about carpal tunnel surgery

Yes. Keyhole carpal tunnel release is done as a day case and takes about half an hour, performed under a full general anaesthetic or with just the arm numb and mild sedation. You go home the same day with a bandage on the hand.

For most patients with adequate private health insurance, out of pocket costs are up to $500, with health fund cover and any excess varying by fund and level of cover. Self pay options are available without insurance. Full informed financial consent is provided after your consultation. Contact us for a written estimate.

You can and should use the hand as soon as possible after the operation, with no slings or plasters. Bandages come off after a few days, and in most cases you can go about all but the very heaviest use of your hands within a week or two. Relief of the tingling is immediate, though fingertip numbness can take longer to resolve.

Yes, where necessary both hands can be treated in the same session, which is one of the advantages of the keyhole method's quick recovery. Your surgeon will advise whether doing both at once suits your circumstances.

Delay in treating carpal tunnel syndrome can cause permanent damage to the median nerve, which is why persistent numbness and tingling should be assessed rather than endured. Splinting and steroid injections can help mild or recent symptoms, but relief from injections is usually temporary.

About 99 per cent of patients get lasting relief from the initial operation, and relief of the night time tingling and pain is immediate. Around 1 per cent experience recurrent symptoms or do not get relief, and any such case is investigated fully.

Not privately. With private health insurance your operation can usually be performed within a week or two, or planned at a time of your choosing. Public hospital waiting lists may be very long, with no choice of surgeon.

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The team at LapSurgery Australia are recognised for their exceptional and major contribution to the Government sponsored Bariatric Safety Registry (BSR). The BSR tracks surgical complications and provides an unbiased safety record for weight loss surgery.