Carpal Tunnel Surgery in Turkey

Carpal tunnel surgery (carpal tunnel release) is a quick, well-established day-case procedure that relieves pressure on the median nerve at the wrist, easing the numbness, tingling and night pain of carpal tunnel syndrome. In Turkey it is performed by accredited hand and orthopaedic surgeons under local anaesthetic, usually in under 30 minutes per hand, and most international patients stay only 1-3 days. Unal Cakar is an independent health-tourism facilitator who arranges this at vetted accredited hospitals; he does not perform surgery, and you pay the clinic directly.

Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when the median nerve, which runs through a narrow channel at the front of your wrist, becomes squeezed. This causes pins-and-needles, numbness in the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger, hand weakness, and pain that often wakes you at night. When splints, activity changes and steroid injections no longer control symptoms, or if nerve studies show significant compression, surgery is usually advised.

Carpal tunnel surgery treats the problem by cutting the transverse carpal ligament that forms the roof of the tunnel. Releasing this ligament immediately enlarges the space and takes the pressure off the nerve, giving it room to recover. It is one of the most common and reliable hand operations performed worldwide.

Surgery is almost always a day case under local anaesthetic, so you are awake but feel no pain in the hand. In open carpal tunnel release the surgeon makes a small incision (roughly 2-3 cm) in the palm, divides the transverse carpal ligament under direct vision, then closes the skin with sutures. In endoscopic release one or two tiny incisions are used and a small camera guides division of the ligament, which can mean a smaller scar and slightly faster early recovery; not every wrist is suitable for the endoscopic technique.

The whole operation typically takes 15-30 minutes per hand. Your surgeon will recommend open or endoscopic release based on your anatomy, nerve study findings and any previous wrist surgery. A soft dressing or light bandage is applied, and you can usually go home the same day with your fingers free to move.

• Day-case hand surgery under local anaesthetic, usually 15-30 minutes per hand
• Open or endoscopic release chosen to suit your wrist and nerve studies
• Best suited to confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome not helped by splints or injections
• Short 1-3 day stay; often possible to treat both hands in one trip
• Accredited hand surgeons with structured aftercare coordinated by Unal

1. 01

   Remote assessment

   You share your symptoms, any nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS), and photos or reports. Unal coordinates a review by an accredited hand surgeon to confirm whether surgery is appropriate.

2. 02

   Plan and quote

   You receive a clear written plan, the recommended technique (open or endoscopic), the all-in clinic quote and a suggested length of stay before you commit.

3. 03

   Arrival and pre-op checks

   On arrival you have a consultation, an examination and any final tests. The surgeon confirms the operative hand (or hands) and answers your questions.

4. 04

   Day-case surgery

   The release is performed under local anaesthetic, usually in 15-30 minutes per hand. You rest briefly afterwards and are discharged the same day with a dressing.

5. 05

   Review and discharge

   A follow-up check confirms the wound is settling and gives you wound-care, exercise and travel advice. Stitches are often removed around 10-14 days, which can be done at home.

6. 06

   Structured aftercare

   Unal keeps a line open with the clinic after you fly home, helping with questions, hand-therapy guidance and any concerns during your recovery.

You may be a good candidate if you have confirmed carpal tunnel syndrome with persistent numbness, tingling or night pain that has not settled with splinting, activity changes or steroid injections, or if nerve studies show moderate-to-severe compression or muscle wasting at the base of the thumb. Surgery is also considered when symptoms are progressing. It may be less suitable, or need careful planning, if your symptoms are very mild and recently started, if they are actually caused by a neck problem or another nerve, or if you are pregnant (symptoms often improve after delivery). Poorly controlled diabetes, thyroid disease, inflammatory arthritis or smoking can affect healing and should be discussed beforehand. A proper assessment, ideally with nerve conduction studies, is the best way to confirm whether you will benefit.

• Rapid relief of night-time pain and tingling, often within days
• Short day-case procedure under local anaesthetic, no general anaesthetic for most patients
• High success rate for restoring sensation and protecting the nerve
• Both hands can often be assessed and treated during one trip
• Choice of open or endoscopic technique tailored to your wrist
• Coordinated care at accredited hospitals with structured aftercare

Most people go home the same day with a light dressing and are encouraged to move their fingers straight away to prevent stiffness. Keeping the hand elevated for the first few days reduces swelling and throbbing, and simple pain relief is usually enough. You can use the hand for light, everyday tasks within about 1-2 weeks, while avoiding heavy gripping, lifting or pushing through the palm until the wound and deeper tissues have healed.

Stitches are typically removed around 10-14 days. Tingling and night pain often improve very quickly, but numbness that has been present for a long time can take weeks or months to fade, and grip and pinch strength rebuild gradually over several weeks as soreness in the palm (sometimes called pillar pain) settles. Office and light work is often possible within 1-2 weeks; heavy manual work usually needs longer, sometimes 4-6 weeks. Simple hand exercises, and hand therapy if recommended, help you regain full movement and strength.

Carpal tunnel release is one of the most successful hand operations, and the majority of patients get lasting relief from tingling and night pain, with sensation improving over the following weeks. How fully you recover depends on how long and how severely the nerve was compressed before surgery: early cases often recover almost completely, whereas longstanding numbness or thumb-muscle wasting may only partly improve, because some nerve damage can be permanent. Recurrence after a complete release is uncommon. Your surgeon will give you a realistic, individual picture based on your nerve studies and examination rather than a guarantee.

Turkey offers experienced hand and orthopaedic surgeons and modern accredited hospitals at a fraction of typical UK or US prices, often with little or no waiting list, and a short procedure means a short, manageable trip. As an independent facilitator and patient advocate, Unal Cakar is not a clinic and does not perform treatment: he is sponsored by vetted partner hospitals, so you only ever pay the clinic directly. He helps you compare honest written quotes, choose an accredited surgeon, organise travel and accommodation, and stay supported through your recovery, keeping your interests, not a sales target, at the centre.