Carpal Tunnel Surgery - Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Ventura

Hand Surgery: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome involves compression of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel in the wrist. This carpal tunnel is a tight space through which the nerve travels and it contains a number of tendons that go to the fingers. If these tendons swell, or if the tunnel fills with fluid, the median nerve can become compressed. This results in pain at the site, numbness and tingling of the thumb, index and middle finger, and loss of strength and dexterity with certain thumb motions. Without early treatment, permanent nerve injury can occur.

There are many causes of carpal tunnel syndrome. Management of this condition begins with a thorough medical history in order to determine if an underlying disease or condition is causing the carpal tunnel syndrome. There are also a number of other entities that mimic carpal tunnel syndrome, and it is important to distinguish between them. Nerve conduction studies can help confirm the diagnosis.

Our surgeons offer multiple treatment approaches for carpal tunnel syndrome, including non surgical treatments such as splinting and steroid injections, as well as surgery. We offer both open and endoscopic carpal tunnel release. Our hand fellowship-trained surgeon, Gil Kryger, md, directs the hand clinic at the Kryger Institute of Plastic Surgery and will make sure that the appropriate treatment is chosen for you.

We also offer treatments for other types of nerve compressions including cubital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve compression at the elbow), radial tunnel syndrome (radial nerve compression in the forearm), pronator syndrome (median nerve compression in the forearm), and Guyon's canal syndrome (ulnar nerve compression in the wrist).