What exactly is carpal tunnel release surgery?|

Details follow: Carpal tunnel release surgery involves making an incision in the palm and using the incision (either using an endoscope or a microscope) to cut the over-grown ligament (transverse ligament) that runs across the wrist and is compressing the median nerve. With this surgery 80+% of people have substantial improvement of their symptoms.

Carpal ligament: The carpal ligament is cut. This allows more room for the contents of the wrist. These include the tendons, tendon sheaths and the median nerve.

Ligament release: The transverse carpal ligament is the superior border of the carpal tunnel. The median nerve runs within the carpal tunnel and when compressed, causes the symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (cts). In order to relive the pressure on the median nerve, the transverse carpal ligament must be released. This is accomplished with either open or endoscopic techniques.

SUCCESS MEANS?: Usually the ligament is released and the nerve pressure goes down, ie the nerve gets decompressed. http://www.handsurgerypodcast.com/endscopic-carpal-tunnel-video.html.

CTR: A carpal tunnel release divides the transverse carpal ligament which forms the roof of the carpal tunnel. By dividing the TCL, the median nerve is decompressed and alleviates the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.