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Procedures · Hand and upper extremity

More hand and upper extremity procedures

Distal Biceps Tendon Repair
Reattaches the biceps at the elbow. Time matters.
Dupuytren Contracture Release
Straightens fingers pulled down by palm cords.
Ganglion Cyst Removal
Removes a wrist or hand cyst and its root.
Thumb CMC Arthroplasty
Rebuilds the arthritic thumb base for pain-free pinch.
Hand and Upper Extremity

Carpal Tunnel Release

Dividing the ligament that roofs the carpal tunnel to relieve pressure on the median nerve, through a small incision or endoscopically.
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Hand and Upper Extremity

Wide-Awake Carpal Tunnel Release

Carpal tunnel release performed in the office under local anesthesia only: no sedation, no fasting, no tourniquet, and you drive yourself home.
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Hand and Upper Extremity

Trigger Finger Release

Opening the tight tendon sheath at the base of a finger or thumb so the tendon glides without catching or locking.
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Hand and Upper Extremity

Cubital Tunnel Release

Relieving pressure on the ulnar nerve where it passes behind the elbow, sometimes moving the nerve to the front, to stop numbness in the ring and small fingers.
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Hand and Upper Extremity

Wrist Fracture Repair

Realigning a broken wrist and holding it with a plate and screws so it heals in position and motion can start early.
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Hand and Upper Extremity

Scaphoid Fracture Repair

Fixing a broken scaphoid bone with a compression screw, and reconstructing scaphoid fractures that have failed to heal, including vascularized bone grafting.
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Hand and Upper Extremity

Distal Biceps Tendon Repair

Reattaching a biceps tendon that has torn from the forearm bone at the elbow, to restore the strength to turn and lift.
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Hand and Upper Extremity

Dupuytren Contracture Release

Releasing or removing the thickened cords in the palm that pull fingers into a bent position, by needle release, enzyme injection or open surgery.
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Hand and Upper Extremity

Ganglion Cyst Removal

Removing a fluid-filled cyst from the wrist or hand along with the stalk that connects it to the joint, to relieve pain and lower recurrence.
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Hand and Upper Extremity

Thumb CMC Arthroplasty

Reconstructing the arthritic joint at the base of the thumb by removing the worn bone and stabilizing the thumb with a tendon or implant, to restore pain-free pinch.
Learn more
ContactTalk toa real person.
Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.
Call801-640-0000
TextSend a text
Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104
Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330
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What it is

Carpal Tunnel Release

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage at the wrist where nine tendons and the median nerve pass under a thick ligament.
When pressure builds, the nerve misfires: numbness, tingling, night waking and weak pinch.Release divides that ligament so the tunnel opens and the pressure comes off the nerve. The ligament heals in a lengthened position.
Performed by
M. Shane Frazier, DO, Hand and Upper Extremity surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. FrazierHand and Upper Extremity
Toby Johnson, MD, Hand and Upper Extremity surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. JohnsonHand and Upper Extremity
Travis Peterson, DO, Hand and Upper Extremity surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. PetersonHand and Upper Extremity
Request an appointment
or call801-640-0000
Carpal Tunnel Release

Who It Helps

Release fits patients with persistent symptoms despite splinting, especially with nerve testing that shows significant compression, constant numbness, or thumb muscle weakness, which signals the nerve is being damaged.Mild, intermittent symptoms often respond to night splinting and activity changes, and we start there.
Carpal Tunnel Release

What to Expect

A ten-to-twenty-minute outpatient procedure through a small palm incision, under local anesthesia with or without light sedation.Home the same day with a soft dressing.Dr. Peterson also performs this wide awake in the office; see that page for the differences.Three hand surgeons across two clinics means a carpal tunnel release can usually be scheduled within a couple of weeks of your first visit. Dr. Frazier, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Peterson operate at Utah Valley Hospital and Orem Community Hospital.
Carpal Tunnel Release

Recovery Timeline

Fingers move the same day.Light use of the hand within days, driving within a few days to a week, and desk work within a week. Grip strength and palm soreness take six to twelve weeks to fully resolve.Night tingling often disappears within days. Long-standing constant numbness recovers more slowly, sometimes incompletely.
Milestones
Day 0Fingers moving
Days 2 to 7Driving, desk work
Week 2Stitches out
Week 6 to 12Grip strength back
Carpal Tunnel Release

Risks and Considerations

Palm tenderness and temporary weakness are common and fade.Infection, nerve or tendon injury, and incomplete relief are uncommon.When the nerve has been compressed severely for years, some numbness may be permanent; surgery stops further damage.
Carpal Tunnel Release

Your Surgeons

Dr. Frazier, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Peterson perform this procedure at Utah Valley Hospital, Orem Community Hospital, American Fork Hospital and Mountain View Hospital.
Dr. Frazier, DO
Fellowship trained in hand and upper extremity surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. Seventeen years in practice. Fluent in Spanish.
Dr. Johnson, MD
Weill Cornell graduate, hand fellowship at Allegheny General. Twenty-one years in practice and seventeen as a collegiate team physician.
Dr. Peterson, DO
Hand surgery fellowship at UMass Chan. Office-based, wide-awake carpal tunnel release. Fifteen years in practice. Speaks German.
Carpal Tunnel Release

Related Procedures and Conditions

Wide-Awake Carpal Tunnel Release
Cubital Tunnel Release
Trigger Finger Release
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Request an appointment
or call801-640-0000
ContactTalk toa real person.
Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.
Call801-640-0000
TextSend a text
Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104
Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330
Request an appointment
Find a clinic
Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyPrivacy Practices
NondiscriminationAccessibilityGood Faith Estimate