Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Treatments - Michael Redler, MD

Video Transcript

I’m Dr. Michael Redler – orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and hand surgery at the Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a very common entity in the hand and wrist. It involves compression of the media nerve as it passes through a bony tunnel at the base of the palm. Through that same tunnel passes nine flexor tendons that allow you to flex all of your fingers and your thumb. If that carpal tunnel should get too crowded the nerve will be compressed. Symptoms of pain, numbness and weakness – especially symptoms at night – are very common. The good news is we are able to treat this with a mini-open procedure done under local anesthesia at the surgical center. Patients go home later that same morning with a small dressing and a few stitches in the skin. Carpal tunnel syndrome is very much like a finger that you slammed in the door with that nerve being the finger. Once we open the door that finger can recover. But, the sooner that’s done, once there’s compression, the better the outcome.