Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release in Freehold and Monroe Township, NJ
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that occurs when one of the major nerves in the hand – the median nerve – is compressed as it travels through the wrist. Pressure on the median nerve can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm that gets worse over time, and can even lead to permanent nerve damage. To prevent this from happening, endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery may be recommended to take pressure off the median nerve and ease the symptoms.
What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The median nerve originates as a group of nerve roots in the neck that come together to form a single nerve that runs down the arm and forearm. It passes through the carpal tunnel – a narrow passageway in the wrist that’s about an inch wide – and goes into the hand, providing feeling in the thumb and index, middle, and ring fingers.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tunnel becomes narrowed or the tissues surrounding the flexor tendons (called the synovium) swell. A number of factors can cause this to happen, including:
- Heredity
- Repetitive hand and wrist motions over a prolonged period of time
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy that cause swelling
- Health conditions such as diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis
Surgery
If diagnosed early, the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can often be relieved using nonsurgical treatments, including bracing or splinting, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroid injections, and lifestyle changes that involve modifying activities that aggravate the symptoms. Some patients also benefit from nerve gliding exercises that help the median nerve move more freely within the carpal tunnel.
If nonsurgical treatment does not relieve the symptoms after a period of time, surgery may be considered. At Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute, we can treat patients in Freehold and Monroe Township, New Jersey, using a procedure called endoscopic carpal tunnel release. A board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons guides a thin tube with a camera attached through a small incision in the wrist or palm. Then, the surgeon divides the transverse carpal ligament – a slightly elastic cord that connects the bones to each other where the wrist and palm meet – to help relieve pressure on the median nerve and reduce symptoms. This endoscopic procedure typically has a much shorter recovery time than open surgery, as it involves much smaller incisions.
If you would like to learn more about endoscopic carpal tunnel release and the benefits it may provide, contact Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute today. We would be happy to schedule an appointment for you at our facility in Freehold or Monroe Township, NJ.
