is. Your surgeon will first ask for your full medical history before conducting a clinical examination of your hands. A nerve conduction study may be arranged to evaluate the function of the median nerve and to understand the location and severity of the compression of this nerve.
Why see a hand surgeon?
Hand surgeons are trained to diagnose and have vast experience in treating all problems related to all hand conditions such as the hand, wrist and forearm exclusively. They are also well equipped with skills and knowledge to handle neglected cases of CTS as well as recurring cases where surgery had been unsuccessful previously.
Your treatment options
- If you have mild symptoms of CTS, your hand surgeon will advise you to make modest changes to your lifestyle and will likely prescribe oral anti-inflammatory medication. A wrist splint will be provided to restrict movement in the wrist and allows you a period of relative rest from movements that make carpal tunnel syndrome worse
- If symptoms persist, you may need surgery. Your hand surgeon will assess your condition and take into account factors such as your age and how long you have been suffering from the symptoms.
- If you have had an unsuccessful CTS surgery previously, your hand surgeon may perform microsurgical neurolysis, a procedure that releases tight scar tissue around the median nerve. If necessary, soft tissue is transferred onto the bare median nerve after this is done to prevent scarring and a return of symptoms. A hypothenar fat pad flap transfer is one example of a soft tissue transfer.
Article contributed by Dr Aaron Gan, hand surgeon at Mount Elizabeth Hospital
Predictive factors in the non-surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Retrieved 5 Oct 2018 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2307866
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. N.D. Retrieved 26 November 2018 from https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/carpal-tunnel-syndrome#1
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Retrieved 19 December 2018 from https://www.healthline.com/health/carpal-tunnel-syndrome