Nerve Conditions

Carpal Tunnel Release

A Carpal Tunnel release is a procedure to free the median nerve which runs through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. It involves making a small cut down the front of the wrist and palm of the hand and dividing the band of tissue which is pressing on the median nerve. Once the nerve is completely free, the skin is closed with stitches.

Ulnar Nerve Decompression at the Elbow

The Ulnar nerve is a nerve which supplies feeling and strength to a portion of the hand and forearm. It may become compressed or trapped as it passes past the elbow. Ulnar nerve decompression at the elbow is performed to free up the nerve. It involves a small cut around the elbow, to free up the compressed nerve.

Hemifacial Spasm

Hemifacial spasms are involuntary painless contractions affecting one side of the face. The muscles contract very often and they mostly start from the eye progressing down the face causing closure of one eye as well as distortion of the mouth on only one side of the face. These spasms may be because of a tumour, injury to the facial nerve or compression of the facial nerve by a blood vessel. Treatment involves botox injection into the affected facial muscles or decompression surgery to relieve the pressure on the facial nerve where a teflon sponge is placed between the nerve and compressing blood vessel.

Nerve Biopsy

The purpose for doing a Nerve Biopsy is to diagnose nerve disease. The surgeon will make a small cut over the nerve of interest. A small segment of the nerve will be cut and sent to pathology. The surgeon will then close the skin with sutures or staples.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a disorder of the trigeminal nerve which causes episodes of intense pain in the face. A thin needle is passed into the skin of the cheek on the side of your face where the pain is. Using x-ray or a surgical navigation computer, the needle is then passed through the check, next to the mouth, and guided through the opening in the base of the skull to where all three branches of the trigeminal nerve come together. The Trigeminal nerve is then numbed by either using heat generated by an electric current or by an injection of Glycerol.

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