Carpal Tunnel Release
What is Carpal Tunnel Release?
Carpal Tunnel Release (CTR) is a surgical procedure to treat carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a condition where the median nerve is compressed in the wrist, causing numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hand. It’s typically recommended when non-surgical treatments fail. In India, CTR is performed in orthopedic or hand surgery departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) is essential for patients.
Why do you need Carpal Tunnel Release?
CTR is indicated for:
- Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
- Persistent symptoms: Numbness, tingling, or pain in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
- Weakness: Difficulty gripping or dropping objects.
- Night pain: Waking up with hand numbness.
- Failed non-surgical treatment:
- No relief from wrist splints, steroid injections, or anti-inflammatory drugs after 3–6 months.
- Nerve damage risk:
- Electromyography (EMG) or nerve conduction studies (NCS) showing severe median nerve impairment.
- Associated conditions:
- CTS due to repetitive motion, pregnancy, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or hypothyroidism.
The procedure aims to relieve pressure on the median nerve by cutting the transverse carpal ligament, creating more space in the carpal tunnel and alleviating symptoms.
Why Do Carpal Tunnel Release Costs Vary in India?
costs range from ₹20,000 to ₹80,000 :
- Procedure Type: Endoscopic CTR (₹40,000–₹60,000); open CTR (₹20,000–₹50,000).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹50,000–₹80,000); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹10,000–₹30,000, often subsidized).
- Additional Costs: Pre-op tests (₹500–₹8,000), anesthesia (₹5,000–₹15,000), hospital charges (₹5,000–₹15,000), post-op care (₹5,000–₹13,000 including physiotherapy).
- Insurance: Covered for medical necessity; confirm with your provider.
Carpal Tunnel Release Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Diagnosis:
- Physical exam: Tinel’s sign (tapping over the nerve causes tingling), Phalen’s test (wrist flexion reproduces symptoms).
- EMG/NCS: Confirms median nerve compression and severity.
- Blood tests: Blood sugar (for diabetics), thyroid function (if hypothyroidism suspected).
- Medications: Stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin) 5–7 days prior if safe.
- Consent: Risks, including nerve injury, are explained.
- Diagnosis:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Open Carpal Tunnel Release:
- Performed under local anesthesia (sometimes with sedation), lasting 30–45 minutes.
- A 2–3 cm incision is made in the palm/wrist.
- The transverse carpal ligament is cut to release pressure on the median nerve.
- The incision is closed with sutures.
- Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release:
- Performed under local anesthesia, lasting 15–30 minutes.
- One or two small incisions (1 cm) are made in the wrist or palm.
- An endoscope (camera) guides the surgeon to cut the ligament using a small blade.
- Incisions are closed with sutures or Steri-Strips.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Endoscope (for endoscopic CTR): Visualizes the ligament.
- Scalpel or endoscopic blade: Cuts the ligament.
- Local anesthetic: Numbs the area (e.g., lidocaine).
- Open Carpal Tunnel Release:
- After Surgery:
- Observation: 1–2 hours; same-day discharge.
- Hand care: Keep incision dry; wear a wrist splint for 1–2 weeks to limit movement.
- Pain management: Mild to moderate pain for 3–5 days; managed with acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Instructions: Avoid heavy lifting or repetitive hand use for 4–6 weeks; elevate hand to reduce swelling.
Recovery After Carpal Tunnel Release
- Immediate Recovery: Same-day discharge; mild swelling and discomfort for 3–5 days.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain/Swelling: Peaks at 2–3 days; ice and elevation help; resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Hand use: Avoid heavy lifting or repetitive tasks for 4–6 weeks; light activities (e.g., writing) in 1–2 weeks.
- Physiotherapy: Starts at 2–3 weeks; focuses on wrist mobility, grip strength, and desensitization; continues for 1–2 months.
- Splint: Worn for 1–2 weeks (longer for endoscopic); protects incision and reduces strain.
- Sutures: Removed at 10–14 days (open CTR); endoscopic may use dissolvable sutures.
- Symptom relief: Numbness/tingling improves in 2–6 weeks; night pain often resolves immediately.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (suture removal), 1 month, and 3 months to monitor healing and strength.
- NCS (if needed): At 3 months to confirm nerve recovery.
Most resume normal activities in 4–6 weeks; full recovery (including heavy tasks) takes 2–3 months. Success rate: 85–90% achieve significant symptom relief; grip strength may take 6–12 months to fully return.
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Infection (1–2%): Superficial or deep; treated with antibiotics, may need debridement.
- Bleeding (1–2%): Hematoma in wrist; may need drainage.
- Nerve injury (<1%): Median nerve damage causing persistent numbness or weakness; rare with experienced surgeons.
- Post-Surgery:
- Scar sensitivity (5–10%): Tenderness at incision site; improves in 3–6 months.
- Pillar pain (5–10%): Pain at base of palm; usually resolves in 2–3 months.
- Stiffness (2–5%): Limited wrist motion; managed with physiotherapy.
- Recurrence (1–5%): Symptoms return due to incomplete release or scar tissue; may need revision surgery.
- Long-Term:
- Weakness (2–5%): Persistent grip weakness; may need prolonged rehab.
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS, <1%): Chronic pain and swelling; treated with pain management and therapy.
Report severe pain, swelling, fever, or worsening numbness promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?
Repetitive hand use, wrist injury, pregnancy, diabetes, arthritis, or hypothyroidism; more common in women.
Can I avoid CTR?
Yes, if mild: Wrist splints, steroid injections, or rest; surgery is for severe symptoms or nerve damage risk.
Is CTR painful?
No, performed under anesthesia; mild to moderate pain for 3–5 days, managed with medication.
How soon can I resume activities?
Light activities (e.g., writing) in 1–2 weeks; normal use in 4–6 weeks; heavy tasks in 2–3 months.
Is CTR covered by insurance in India?
Yes, for medical necessity; confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Severe pain, swelling, fever, or worsening numbness.
Will my symptoms fully resolve?
85–90% achieve significant relief; severe cases with nerve damage may have residual numbness.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Avoid repetitive hand strain, use ergonomic tools, follow physiotherapy, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
Carpal Tunnel Release is a safe, effective procedure to relieve carpal tunnel syndrome, with a high success rate and relatively quick recovery. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, typically covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult an orthopedic or hand surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Carpal Tunnel Release
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Ahmedabad |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Ajmer |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Aligarh |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Allahabad |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Amritsar |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Aurangabad |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Bangalore |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Bareilly |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Belgaum |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Bhopal |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Bikaner |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Chandigarh |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Chennai |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Coimbatore |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Dehradun |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Delhi |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Dhanbad |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Durgapur |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Faridabad |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Ghaziabad |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Gorakhpur |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Guntur |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Gurgaon |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Guwahati |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Gwalior |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Hyderabad |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Indore |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Jabalpur |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Jaipur |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Jalandhar |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Jamshedpur |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Jodhpur |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Kanpur |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Kochi |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Kolkata |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Kollam |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Lucknow |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Ludhiana |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Madurai |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Mangalore |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Meerut |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Moradabad |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Mumbai |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Mysore |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Nagpur |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Nashik |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Noida |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Patna |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Pune |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Raipur |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Rajkot |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Ranchi |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Surat |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Thane |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
Vadodara |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Varanasi |
30,000 |
80,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
40,000 |
90,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.