Carpel Tunnel Specialist in Kennewick, WA

websitebuilder • April 2, 2025

Restoring Pain-Free Hand Function: Benton Franklin Orthopedic Hand Specialists

At Benton Franklin Orthopedic Hand Specialists, our goal is to restore pain-free hand function and help you return to your normal activities as soon as possible.

Our team of specialists is Fellowship Trained in Hand, Elbow, and Upper Extremity, and they masterfully handle all hand trauma in the entire Tri-cities ( Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco).

With precise surgical techniques, we effectively treat a wide range of hand and wrist problems.

Understanding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition that can affect both the hand and wrist. It occurs when the median nerve, located in the wrist, becomes compressed. This nerve is responsible for transporting signals for sensation and muscle movement. When compressed, its function becomes impaired, leading to symptoms associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This condition is often linked to jobs that require extensive hand use.

Several factors contribute to the development of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, including medical, workplace, inflammatory, nerve, and other alterations in the balance of the body’s fluids. Medical conditions such as obesity, kidney failure, menopause, thyroid disorders, and more can increase the likelihood of developing this syndrome.

When the tissues and tendons in the carpal tunnel swell, the area within the tunnel becomes smaller. This can occur in association with conditions like hypothyroidism and diabetes. The increased pressure within the tunnel compresses the median nerve, disrupting its function and resulting in the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Symptoms and Diagnosis:

The symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome include pain, numbness, and tingling, primarily affecting the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers.

The pain is often described as an ache or burning sensation and may eventually spread towards the arms, causing difficulty in holding or grasping objects.

Treatment Options

Once non-surgical treatment options have been exhausted without success, surgical solutions are considered.

Our specialists perform outpatient surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at our Kennewick, Washington.

Open release surgery involves creating a small 1-inch incision along the palm to access the transverse carpal ligament.
An incision is made on the ligament to open the tunnel and expand it, eliminating the pressure on the median nerve.

Additional surgical options include endoscopic tunnel release, which uses a cannula to make an incision in the transverse carpal ligament and enlarges the tunnel, relieving pressure on the median nerve.