Carpal Tunnel Decompression surgical procedure involves the fibrous tissues in the wrist and palm of the affected hand.
Carpal Tunnel Decompression surgical procedure is performed for carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a disorder characterized by pain, numbness or tingling in the hand due to a compression of the median nerve that runs into the hand under a band of tissue at the wrist. The disorder does not respond to conservative treatment measures with pain medication and splints.
Use of wrist splints and corticosteroid injections may be used to relieve symptoms. Usually, there are no alternatives to surgery once conservative treatments measures have failed in treating carpal tunnel syndrome.
In some cases, a keyhole surgery using smaller skin incisions may be done using specialized instruments and a tube fitted with a camera.
The cost of Carpal Tunnel Decompression procedure depends on a variety of factors, such as the type of your health insurance, annual deductibles, co-pay requirements, out-of-network and in-network of your healthcare providers and healthcare facilities.
In many cases, an estimate may be provided before the procedure. The final amount depends upon the findings during the surgery/procedure and post-operative care that is necessary.
It is normal for a patient to feel uncomfortable and confused by the information regarding an Carpal Tunnel Decompression procedure and on what needs to be done
If the patient needs further reassurance or a second opinion, a physician will almost always assist and also recommend another physician, if required
Also, if the procedure involves multiple surgeries or has many alternatives, the patient may take a second opinion to understand and choose the best one. They can also choose to approach another physician independently
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Carpal-tunnel-syndrome/Pages/Treatment.aspx (accessed on 05/17/2015)
http://www.carpal-tunnel.net/treatments/surgery (accessed on 05/17/2015)
The Carpal Tunnel Decompression procedure may be performed under local anesthesia with/without sedation.
A Carpal Tunnel Decompression procedure is usually performed in a hospital as an outpatient procedure.
The procedure is performed by any of the following medical personnel, with or without assistance from an anesthesiologist:
The procedure may be completed in less than half an hour.
It is very important to provide the following information to your healthcare provider. This enables your healthcare provider in assessing the risks for the Carpal Tunnel Decompression procedure and helps avoid unnecessary complications.
A physician will request your consent for Carpal Tunnel Decompression procedure using an Informed Consent Form.
Consent for the Procedure: A “consent” is your approval to undergo a procedure. A consent form is signed after the risks and benefits of the procedure, and alternative treatment options, are discussed. This process is called informed consent.
You must sign the forms only after you are totally satisfied by the answers to your questions. In case of minors and individuals unable to personally give their consent, the individual’s legal guardian or next of kin, shall give their consent for the procedure.
Before a Carpal Tunnel Decompression procedure, the patient has to undergo certain tests such as:
Some of the basic questions that you might ask your physician are as follows:
Local anesthesia by injection and sedation by injection is administered for this procedure.
The blood loss during an uncomplicated Carpal Tunnel Decompression procedure is not significant.
There are general factors that increase the risk of getting complications during surgery and they include:
The possible risks or complications that may arise during the Carpal Tunnel Decompression surgery are:
Usually no specific post-operative care is required after the procedure. Patients are usually discharged from the hospital the same day as the procedure.
The possible risks and complications that may arise after a Carpal Tunnel Decompression procedure are:
The prognosis after a Carpal Tunnel Decompression procedure is generally good. The surgery helps in symptom relief in a vast majority of individuals.
Do contact your physician if you notice any of the following symptoms:
At home, the following post-operative care is recommended, after a Carpal Tunnel Decompression procedure:
Complete recovery from the procedure may take a few weeks.
Any tissue that is removed is disposed as per standard medical procedures. However, in some cases, the surgeon may recommend a pathological examination of the tissue.
Usually, a pathologist does not get involved in the care of the patient. However, if a tissue is received for further lab analysis, then:
It is important to note that the number of bills that the patient may receive depends on the arrangement the healthcare facility has with the physician and other healthcare providers.
Sometimes, the patient may get a single bill that includes the healthcare facility and the consultant physician charges. Sometimes, the patient might get multiple bills depending on the healthcare provider involved. For instance, the patient may get a bill from:
The patient is advised to inquire and confirm the type of billing, before the Carpal Tunnel Decompression procedure is performed.
We sincerely acknowledge and thank Dr. Douglas J. Jones for reviewing the article. His valuable input and feedback has helped enrich the contents of this article.
Douglas J. Jones, MD FACS
Board Certified General Surgeon and Faculty Member
University of Illinois, College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign
506 S. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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