Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
Carpal Tunnel Release in Nigeria
A small operation that releases the ligament pressing on the median nerve at the wrist, for hands that go numb and wake you at night.
Also called: Carpal tunnel surgery, Carpal tunnel decompression
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed 17 September 2026. This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Published price
₦422,400
One hand, day case
What the price covers
- Surgeon fee
- Theatre time under local anaesthetic
- Dressings and post-operative medication
- First review and stitch removal
What it does not cover
- Consultation
- Nerve conduction studies where these are needed
- Hand therapy if required
Related prices
Both hands
₦704,000
What would change this price
- Doing both hands in one session
- General anaesthetic instead of local
- Additional procedures on the same hand, such as trigger finger release
Most HMO plans cover this once nerve compression is documented. Prior authorisation is still required.
Who this is for
- Numbness and tingling in the thumb, index and middle fingers
- Pain that wakes you at night and improves when you shake the hand
- Weakness or wasting of the muscle at the base of the thumb
- Symptoms that persist despite a night splint and activity change
When it is not the right answer
- Mild or intermittent symptoms that have not had a trial of splinting
- Numbness that is actually coming from the neck, which examination distinguishes
The pathway, step by step
- 1
Consultation₦35,000
Examination and assessment of the pattern of numbness.
- 2
Non-surgical treatment first
A night splint, activity modification and sometimes a steroid injection.
- 3
Nerve studies
Used where the diagnosis is unclear or before surgery in some cases.
- 4
Surgery
Fifteen to twenty minutes under local anaesthetic. You go home the same day.
- 5
Review₦25,000
Stitches out at ten to fourteen days.
Recovery, realistically
Days 1 to 3
Hand elevated, fingers moving, light use only.
Weeks 2 to 3
Stitches out, most light activity resumed. Night pain usually gone quickly.
Weeks 6 to 12
Grip strength returns. Long-standing numbness can take months to improve, and may not fully recover.
Risks you should be told about
- Scar tenderness for some weeks
- Incomplete recovery of numbness where the nerve was compressed for a long time
- Infection, which is uncommon
- Nerve injury, which is rare
Every operation carries risk. A surgeon who lists none is not being straight with you. Yours will go through these with you before you consent.
Questions people ask
How much does carpal tunnel surgery cost in Nigeria?
N422,400 for one hand as a day case at Mezo, or N704,000 for both hands in one session, covering the surgeon, theatre and first review.
Will the numbness go away?
Night pain usually settles within days. Numbness improves over weeks to months, and if the nerve has been compressed for years some numbness can remain.
How soon can I use my hand?
Light use immediately, driving in one to two weeks, and heavy gripping work after about six weeks.
Prices shown are Mezo cash prices in naira and were last checked on 17 September 2026. They are what you would be quoted for the standard case described here. Your final quote follows an examination, because the right operation for you may not be this one.