Carpal tunnel surgery is an operation to relieve the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) by cutting a ligament in your wrist. The ligament runs across the top of your wrist bones and creates a narrow channel in your wrist. This channel is called the carpal tunnel and inside it are tendons and the median nerve.
In CTS, swelling inside the wrist puts pressure on the median nerve. This causes symptoms such as pain, tingling, pins and needles and weakness in your fingers. By cutting through the ligament, pressure is released and the symptoms often go away.

Sometimes CTS gets better on its own after a few months.

If it doesn’t, there’s a risk that your median nerve could be permanently damaged.
Your doctor may suggest carpal tunnel surgery, but usually after you’ve tried other treatments, such as painkillers and wrist splints, which haven’t helped. They’ll also want to know if your symptoms are affecting your daily life or interrupting your sleep.

Carpal tunnel surgery has a high success rate in reducing the painful symptoms of CTS and improving quality of life. Your consultant will help you decide if surgery is likely to benefit you.