Also known as Carpal Tunnel Decompression Surgery, the procedure is used for treating Carpal Runnel Syndrome. The condition is characterized by compression or increased pressure at the median nerve of the carpal tunnel which passes through the wrists. Carpal tunnel surgery is suggested in case of persistent pain the first three digits (thumb, index as well as middle finger) and ring finger (towards the thumb side). The pain is mostly accompanied by a feeling of numbness or loss of sensation, and tingling sensation. The surgery is very common with more than 500,000 surgeries being performed worldwide annually. On an average, the carpal tunnel surgery cost may vary from below $1000 to above $3979, as it depends on a number of factors.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition that occurs when the nerve lying in the center of the arm and hand gets pressed by the structures surrounding it. There can be pain in the hands, wrists, and arms region, occurring due to this syndrome.
A physical examination helps to determine if the syndrome is associated with daily activities or to an underlying disorder and may rule out other painful conditions that mimic the carpal tunnel syndrome. Electromyography is often used to confirm the diagnosis. This involves using a thin gauged needle that is inserted into a muscle in the wrist. The electrical responses are charted and the effect of damage or severity of the syndrome is analyzed. Ultrasound imaging is also used to assess the nerve in the center of the wrist.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is usually the result of a mixture of things that increase pressure on the central nerve and tendons within the carpal tunnel, instead of pressure from within the nerve itself. This disorder can also occur due to hereditary causes. Other contributing factors include trauma or injury to the wrist that causes swelling, like sprain or fracture. This also occurs due to various medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, pregnancy, and obesity.
The most common procedure that is performed for carpal tunnel release in South Africa is an open carpal tunnel release surgery. This is done through a little slit of roughly 2-3cm at the bottom of the palm. The muscle that is putting pressure on the nerve is separated, which relieves the pressure on the nerve in the carpal tunnel. The tunnel must be checked for any masses or other pathology that may be present and can be treated.
The operation itself usually takes ten to twenty minutes, but the patient has to undergo the entire treatment for forty minutes to an hour to incorporate the anesthetic and wake-up time. Keyhole surgery also can be performed using special equipment to separate the transverse ligament from within, but this is often rarely done due to the high costs of the procedure.
Accredited hospitals, treatment at an affordable cost, and the best medical facilities have made South Africa one of the top destinations for carpal tunnel surgery. The cost of carpal tunnel in South Africa starts from 1000 USD to 3700 USD. There are many factors that affect the cost of this treatment such as the hospital’s fee, surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, stay in the hospital, the type of procedure you opt for, the complexity of the problem, etc. Do consult with your doctor to determine the complete cost structure.
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The treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome depends on the severity of the condition and the duration of the symptoms. Generally, the physicians first recommend non-surgical interventions such as the use of corticosteroid injections and wrist splints to relieve the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
A carpal tunnel treatment surgery is recommended in case:
The carpal tunnel treatment surgery is an open technique. The surgeon may make a cut in the transverse carpal ligament that forms the roof of the tunnel. The carpal tunnel treatment allows more room for the median nerve and the tendons to pass through the tunnel. Thereby, the pressure on the nerve is reduced causing relief from the symptoms.
Carpal tunnel surgery is a simple outpatient procedure. You can go to the hospital, get the surgery done, and walk back to home on the same day.
On the day of the surgery, the area to be operated is cleaned with an antiseptic solution to avoid the chances of contracting an infection. The anesthetist administers a local anesthetic injection to numb the wrist area. This is done so that you do not experience any pain during the procedure.
A small cut is made in the palm near to the wrist area. Once the transverse carpal ligament is visible, a small cut is made in the ligament. This relieves the pressure on the nerve. The skin is put back and stitched together in its original position. A bandage is placed on the palm.
The following are the two alternatives to the open carpal tunnel surgery:
Endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery: The surgical procedure is similar to that of open surgery but the entire surgery is performed by looking at the camera. A small incision is made and small instruments with a camera attached to them are placed inside. The incision is small and damage is minimal. It gives you a chance to recover faster than the open technique. The healing is better and minimal pain is felt.
Key hole surgery: In this procedure, a smaller incision than normal is made on the palm. A special instrument with a light at one end and microscope at the other end is placed. This gives the doctor a chance to see the carpal ligament and carefully guide the tools to cut the targeted area.
The symptoms are usually relieved immediately after the surgery or in most cases, within a few months. You may feel numbness in the fingers for the next 15 to 16 hours.
The time you take to recover from carpal tunnel surgery depends on the severity of symptoms you had before the treatment.
Carpal Tunnel Release cost in South Africa varies from one hospital to the other. The Carpal Tunnel Release package cost usually includes all the expenses related to pre and post surgery expenses of the patient. The comprehensive Carpal Tunnel Release package cost includes the cost of investigations, surgery, medicines and consumables. Stay outside the package duration, post-operative complications and diagnosis of a new condition may further increase the Carpal Tunnel Release cost in South Africa.
Carpal Tunnel Release in South Africa is offered by multiple hospitals across the country. Some of the best hospitals for Carpal Tunnel Release in South Africa include the following:
After discharge from the hospital, the patient has to stay for another 14 days in the country for complete recovery. This duration of stay is recommended to complete all the necessary follow-ups and control tests to ensure that the surgery was successful.
One of the topmost destinations for Carpal Tunnel Release is South Africa. It has a variety of accredited hospital, affordable cost of treatment and some of the best medical fraternity. Some of the other destinations that are popular for Carpal Tunnel Release include the following:
| Country | Cost |
|---|---|
| Greece | USD 1000 |
| Hungary | USD 3500 |
| India | USD 2800 |
| Lithuania | USD 3400 |
| Poland | USD 3000 |
| Singapore | USD 3000 |
| Spain | USD 6000 |
| Thailand | USD 5000 |
| Tunisia | USD 2000 |
| Turkey | USD 3000 |
| United Kingdom | USD 3200 |
There are certain expenses additional to the Carpal Tunnel Release cost that the patient may have to pay for. These are the chanrges for daily meals and hotel stay outside the hospital. These charges starts from USD 50 per person.
Some of the best cities in South Africa which offer Carpal Tunnel Release are:
The patient has to spend about 1 days in the hospital after Carpal Tunnel Release for proper recovery and to get clearance for discharge. This phase is important to ensure that the patient is recovering well and is clinically stable. During this time, several tests are performed before the patient is deemed suitable for discharge.
The average rating for Carpal Tunnel Release hospitals in South Africa is 2.9. Several parameters such as hospital infrastructure, pricing policy, quality of services, politeness of staff etc. contribute to the rating.
There are more than 3 hospitals that offer Carpal Tunnel Release in South Africa. The above listed hospitals are approved to perform the surgery and have proper infrastructure to handle Carpal Tunnel Release patients. Apart from good services, the hospitals are known to follow all standard and legal guidelines as dictated by the local medical affairs body or organization.
Some of the top doctors for Carpal Tunnel Release in South Africa are:
FalseSouth Africa is one of the leading medical tourism destinations with top hospitals, such as:
These hospitals have taken the patient experience to the next level by ensuring the below things:
The government of South Africa has strict healthcare regulations in place which all hospitals need to follow to ensure quality treatment. The patient-centric hospitals are equipped with superior infrastructure, high-tech medical equipment, and highly trained and qualified doctors, providing a unique patient experience.
The hospitals in South Africa receive accreditation from Joint Commission International (JCI) and Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA). To ensure that integrated and coordinated care is provided, COHSASA develops as well as measures standards in all areas and departments of a healthcare facility. The SafeCare program launched by COHSASA, JCI, and SafeCare Foundation ensures the implementation of internationally recognized standards to improve health care delivery. Hospitals and clinics that initially and meet standards are awarded two-year accreditations and as the journey in excellence continues, awards of longer duration are given.
South Africa is gaining global attention for medical tourism due to affordable treatment costs and world-class infrastructure. Medical tourists prefer South Africa for treatment due to many other reasons like world-class facilities provided by hospitals, advanced technology, global exposure of doctors, and accredited hospitals. South Africa’s recent advancement in stem cell therapy has made it one of the most preferred countries for seeking advanced medical treatment. The hospitals in South Africa aim to destress your medical holiday by dealing with all of the organization and administrative tasks, as well as provide intensive care and assistance on a 24/7 basis.
With quality at their core, the well-trained and highly qualified doctors in South Africa provide world-class treatment. Many doctors in South Africa receive their training in foreign countries like Australia and Cuba which provide them global exposure and make them more competent in handling cases with high precision and accuracy. Using a holistic approach, doctors have received worldwide recognition for delivering excellent results in dental procedures and fertility treatments. The high quality of doctors in the country is attributed to factors like their patient-centric approach, incorporation of the human touch in treatment, education at reputed colleges, and adherence to global standards.
A person can apply for a medical visa to South Africa for a period of 90 days. The High Commission helps one decide for how long a visa can be extended. People must apply for a temporary residency permit if they require medical treatment for longer than three months. The validity of a visa starts the day it is granted by the High Commission and not on the date of departure. Also, visa applications will not be accepted more than 30 days prior to departure. Here is a list of documents that you will require for applying for a medical visa:
A large number of people visit South Africa to avail procedures like anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, total knee replacement, meniscus repairs, and hip replacement. South Africa has also gained popularity for delivering excellent results in cosmetic surgery and infertility treatment. Egg donation program is available in South Africa and it is even possible to select your donor, as well as gives you the option of having a surgical or non-surgical procedure, all with very low waiting times. Low-cost treatment, fast recovery, use of advanced medical technology, and highly trained doctors are some of the reasons for the popularity of these procedures.
South Africa has a number of modern urban centers, such as Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban. Cape Town is a world-class tourism attraction and is home to a variety of people from different cultures, as well as some of the top-class doctors and state-of-the-art medical facilities in the world Most of these cities have an efficient public transportation system, cheap accommodation options, and connectivity through airlines. Johannesburg’s public and private healthcare sectors work in coordination with South Africa's medical schools to produce internationally recognized medical specialists and the city’s medical care quality matches with that of Great Britain.
Yes, vaccination is compulsory before visiting South Africa. The vaccines recommended by WHO and the National Travel Health Network and Centre are Rabies and tetanus, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, Yellow fever, hepatitis A. Make sure that infants of age 6 to 11 months get measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before they travel to South Africa. Typhoid vaccine is recommended for most travellers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas. You can connect with your doctor or the hospital in South Africa for the required vaccines. Also, refer to the travel advisory issued by the government.
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