Carpal Tunnel Surgery in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is carpal tunnel release?
The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage at the base of the palm. Its floor and walls are the small wrist bones, and its roof is a firm band called the transverse carpal ligament. Nine finger tendons and one nerve, the median nerve, share this space. When the contents swell or the space tightens, the nerve is squeezed, and the result is carpal tunnel syndrome.
The median nerve carries feeling from the thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger, and it powers the muscles at the base of the thumb. That is why the little finger usually stays normal: it is supplied by a different nerve. A little finger that tingles along with the rest points the surgeon towards another cause, often at the elbow or neck.
Carpal tunnel release divides the ligament that forms the roof of the tunnel. The ligament heals in a slightly lengthened position, leaving the nerve more room for good. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, the operation is carried out by the neurosurgeon as part of the hospital's peripheral nerve work, alongside the wider hand and wrist surgery service.
Who needs it
The classic story is tingling or burning in the thumb and first fingers that wakes you at night, with an urge to shake or flick the hand until feeling returns. Wrists tend to curl while we sleep, and that bent position raises pressure inside the tunnel. During the day, symptoms often appear while holding a phone, a steering wheel or a book. Later, the hand may feel clumsy, with dropped keys or trouble with buttons, and the fleshy pad at the base of the thumb may look flatter.
Risk rises with diabetes, thyroid disease, pregnancy, wrist fractures, arthritis and repetitive gripping. In the UAE, long hours at a keyboard, commercial driving and work with vibrating tools are frequent threads in the history.
Surgery is the later step. Most people start with a wrist splint worn at night to hold the wrist straight, changes to the activities that provoke symptoms, and sometimes a steroid injection into the tunnel, which can settle symptoms and also supports the diagnosis when it brings relief. Release enters the discussion when symptoms keep returning despite these measures, when numbness becomes constant, or when the thumb muscles begin to weaken.
The decision rests on your symptoms, the examination and, in most cases, a nerve conduction study, which measures how well signals cross the wrist and helps rule out a trapped nerve in the neck. If neck symptoms are part of the picture, the peripheral nerve surgery and Neurosurgery pages explain how the two are separated.
What happens
Most releases are day cases performed while you are awake. The surgeon numbs the palm and wrist with a local anaesthetic injection, and a cuff on the upper arm keeps the area clear during the procedure. You feel pushing and pressure while the hand stays comfortable.
Through a short cut in the palm, in line with the ring finger, the surgeon divides the ligament along its full length and checks that the nerve is free, using magnification where helpful. The skin is closed with fine stitches and the hand is wrapped in a soft, bulky dressing. You leave with your hand raised in a sling.
Preparing for it
Tell the team about every medicine you take, especially blood thinners, and about diabetes or thyroid problems. Take off rings from that hand beforehand, as the fingers swell. Wear a loose top with wide sleeves, and arrange for someone to drive you home.
If both hands are affected, they are usually treated one at a time so one hand stays free for eating, washing and dressing. During Ramadan, discuss timing with the team, since a morning day case fits well around fasting and the dressing needs to stay dry for wudu. If you plan long-haul travel, mention it, as a raised hand and finger movement matter on a long flight.
Afterwards
Keep the hand raised above heart level for the first days and move the fingers fully and often to prevent stiffness. Night-time tingling often eases early. Numbness that had been constant tends to recover more slowly, and grip and pinch strength return gradually over the following weeks and months. The palm around the scar may feel tender when leaning on it, which fades with time. Light tasks such as eating and typing usually come back first, with heavy gripping and lifting later. Hand therapy is arranged by referral where needed, and your surgeon gives you a timeline for your work, whether that is a desk job, driving or manual labour. In summer heat, keep the dressing cool and dry and drink plenty of water.
Contact the hospital if the wound becomes red, hot or swollen, leaks, or if you develop a fever. Go to the emergency department straight away if your fingers turn pale, blue or cold, or if pain builds severely under the dressing.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE insurance plans cover carpal tunnel release when it is medically needed. Insurers usually ask for pre-approval supported by the examination findings and a nerve conduction study report, so having the study done early keeps the process moving. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
Why does carpal tunnel syndrome get worse at night?
Carpal tunnel symptoms are often worse at night because the wrist tends to bend while you sleep, which raises pressure on the median nerve. Shaking the hand brings relief because it straightens the wrist and restores blood flow to the nerve, and a splint that keeps the wrist straight overnight often helps.
Can carpal tunnel syndrome get better without surgery?
Mild or intermittent carpal tunnel syndrome often improves with a night splint, activity changes and sometimes a steroid injection. Surgery is advised when symptoms persist despite these, when numbness becomes constant, or when the thumb muscles weaken, since long-standing pressure on the nerve recovers more slowly.
Will carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy go away after birth?
Carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnancy usually settles in the weeks or months after birth, as the fluid retention that caused it clears. A night splint is the main treatment during pregnancy, and surgery is rarely needed; symptoms that persist well after delivery are assessed in the usual way.
Do I need a nerve conduction test before carpal tunnel surgery?
Most surgeons request a nerve conduction study before carpal tunnel surgery, because it confirms that the median nerve is slowed at the wrist, shows how severe the compression is, and helps exclude a trapped nerve in the neck. Most UAE insurers also expect the report as part of the pre-approval request.
What are the risks of carpal tunnel release?
Carpal tunnel release carries risks including infection, a tender or thickened scar, stiffness, pillar pain at the base of the palm, injury to a small nerve branch and, rarely, a long-lasting pain condition. Symptoms can persist or return, especially when the nerve had been compressed for a long time, and very long-standing numbness or muscle wasting may recover only partly.
Will I be awake during carpal tunnel surgery?
Most people are awake during carpal tunnel surgery, with the hand numbed by a local anaesthetic injection. You feel pressure and movement but no pain, and you go home the same day. A general or regional anaesthetic can be discussed if you prefer.
When can I drive or return to work after carpal tunnel release?
You can usually drive after carpal tunnel release once the dressing is reduced and you can grip the wheel firmly and turn it quickly without pain. Desk work often resumes sooner than heavy manual work, and your surgeon gives you a timeline based on your job and which hand was treated.
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