Last updated 13 November 2025. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition which often requires long-term treatment. You are more likely to develop this condition if your work involves repeatedly bending your wrist or gripping too hard. In severe cases, surgery may be required. However, if the specialist makes any errors during the surgery, you may lose function or mobility in your hand or fingers, leaving you in a worse position than before. In such cases, carpal tunnel surgery claims may be an option to seek compensation for pain, suffering and financial setbacks.
Our solicitors have experience in all kinds of medical negligence claims, including cases of negligent carpal tunnel surgery. They will assist you throughout the claims process, from start to finish. Get in touch with our team now to avail of these services.
[link_btns]
What You Need To Know About Carpal Tunnel Surgery Negligence:
- How is carpal tunnel symptom treated?– Carpal tunnel syndrome is usually treated through painkillers, hand exercises, wrist splints and surgery as a last option.
- Can I claim compensation for the psychological trauma due to the carpal tunnel surgery going wrong?- Yes, you may claim compensation for the psychological trauma along with your actual injuries under general damages in your carpal tunnel surgery claim.
- Can I claim carpal tunnel surgery negligence compensation on behalf of my child?- Yes, you may claim carpal tunnel surgery negligence compensation on behalf of your child below the age of 18 by becoming a litigation friend.
- How will my child receive carpal tunnel surgery negligence compensation?- If your child’s carpal tunnel surgery negligence claim is successful, their compensation will be held in a Court Funds Office (CFO) bank account until they turn 18. After this, the amount will be transferred to your child’s account, and the CFO account will be closed.
- Can I make a carpal tunnel surgery negligence claim against the NHS?- Yes, you can make a carpal tunnel surgery negligence claim against the NHS if the surgical error was caused by an NHS hospital or professional.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful upper limb disorder that affects the wrist and hand, it is often seen as a type of repetitive strain injury that is commonly work-related. Because of this, it can fall under the category of industrial disease.
The cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is the median nerve in the forearm becoming compressed which then causes pain and also dysfunction. The median nerve is found inside a small and thin passageway called the carpal tunnel which is made of tiny bones and some connective tissue, and runs along the length of the arm and into the hand. The tendons and median nerve work inside the carpal tunnel to allow movement and feeling in the fingers.
When the median nerve is compressed, the signals that are sent along the nerve to and from the brain become disrupted causing the nerve to become dysfunctional, affecting the movement and feeling in the arm, hand, fingers and thumbs. If you have been affected by this type of injury, contact our team to learn more about carpal tunnel surgery claims.
What Are The Symptoms Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
What symptoms could prompt people to make carpal tunnel surgery claims? The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and its severity will differ with each person. They can also worsen at certain times of the day with most people reporting that morning and evening tend to be worse, and using the hand often causes the symptoms to become more prominent.
The most commonly seen symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are:
- Tingling like pins and needles in the thumb, fingers, hand and/or arm.
- Pain and aching in the thumb, fingers, hand and/or arm.
- Numbness of the thumb, fingers, wrist and arm.
- Weakness in the hand and difficulty with gripping with the thumb and fingers.
- Reduced feeling in the thumb, fingers, hand and/or arm.
- Swelling in the affected area.
- Dry skin and changes in the skin, particularly on the hand.
Can I Make A Carpal Tunnel Claim?
You may be able to make a carpal tunnel claim if you’ve suffered medical negligence. Medical negligence is when you sustain harm that could have been prevented (known as ‘avoidable harm’) because a medical professional breached their duty of care.
Every medical professional owes a duty of care to every patient they treat. Their duty of care requires them to always provide their patients with the correct standards of care. If at any point they provide a standard of care that falls below what is minimally expected from them, this is a breach of their duty of care.
As such, here are the carpal tunnel surgery claims eligibility criteria:
- You were owed a duty of care by a medical professional.
- This duty of care was breached because the medical professional provided substandard care.
- You sustained avoidable harm because of this breach of duty.
If you believe you may be eligible for carpal tunnel compensation, please contact us today. Our advisors can listen to your circumstances and tell you whether you have an eligible medical negligence claim or not. If you do, you can then connect with our specialist solicitors for free if you wish.
How Do I Prove My Carpal Tunnel Surgery Negligence Claim?
Collecting evidence is an important step in carpal tunnel surgery claims since it would help to highlight your injuries and the role of the healthcare provider. Here are some examples of the evidence you could collect:
- Medical records, such as prescriptions, X-rays, and doctor’s notes.
- Photographs of any visible injuries, such as scars or bruises.
- Contact details of the person who accompanied you to the hospital. This would come in useful while drafting witness statements.
- Financial records, such as bank statements and invoices, to include special damages.
- A note from a physiotherapist or psychiatrist to highlight the physical and mental impact of the carpal tunnel syndrome surgery negligence.
- Copy of the termination letter or email to show how you’ve lost your job as a result of the surgical negligence.
The above list isn’t exhaustive, but only provides a few examples of the evidence which may help in a carpal tunnel operation claim. While it may be difficult to understand the kind of proof you require, our advisors can make a checklist of the documents you should collect, based on the nature of your claim. They can also help you in communicating with official bodies like the NHS and navigating the administrative procedure pertaining to certain documents. Call us now to book an advice session with our team.
What Are The Causes Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
There are a number of different causes of carpal tunnel syndrome. Work-related carpal tunnel syndrome is probably the most common where employees undertake tasks that require a repetitive movement and positioning of the hands and arms, but any activity that involves continued repetitive use of the arms and hands could bring about carpal tunnel symptoms over time.
The most common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome are:
- Activities that are repetitive – Manual labour, working on a production line, playing a musical instrument, activities that require a strong hand grip, and any other work or leisure activity that needs repetitive movements
- The use of certain equipment – Someone’s working environment may require them to use vibrating tools such as jackhammers or power drills – continuous use can result in this kind of injury
- Crush injuries – Crushing injuries such as fractures, sprains, and literal crushing that causes swelling of the carpal tunnel or compression of the median nerve may trigger carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Previous wrist injuries – they can be made worse by certain occurrences
- Pregnancy – it is thought that the change in hormones may affect the connective tissue in the carpal tunnel which then may compress the median nerve
- Arthritis in the wrist area
- Existing health conditions – Rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and an underactive thyroid gland may eventually cause carpal tunnel syndrome
- Being overweight
Also, it has been found that carpal tunnel syndrome can run in families and so if either of your parents or siblings suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, then you are at an increased risk of developing the condition. If you have suffered any of these injuries, you could make carpal tunnel surgery claims.
How Do Doctors Diagnose And Then Treat Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Diagnosis is usually based on the patient’s symptoms alone. Examinations can be carried out to confirm if there is indeed a compression of the median nerve.
Two tests commonly used to aid the diagnosis are:
- The Tinel’s sign test – This is where a doctor will tap on the inside of the patient’s wrist, if they experience any tingling and numbness, then this will indicate that they are suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.
- The Phalen’s sign test – This is where the patient’s arms are extended outwards and their wrists are flexed down towards the ground. If, after one minute, they experience numbness or tingling, then this will suggest that they have carpal tunnel syndrome.
The Doctor will also carry out general testing such as blood tests, nerve conduction tests, X-ray and ultrasounds, for example, to find out if there is an underlying condition that may be causing the carpal tunnel syndrome.
Once the diagnosis has been made, the Doctor will advise on any treatment they feel is necessary. If the arm is completely rested, the condition may disappear after several months on its own. When this fails however, then a wrist splint may be used or corticosteroid injections might be recommended.
If all of the above have been tried but the symptoms still persist, then the patient may be recommended for corrective surgery. This involves cutting ligaments in the carpal tunnel under local anaesthetic to relieve the median nerve of any pressure. Surgery will only be suggested as a last resort however as, the same with any surgery, there are risks involved. If you have been harmed by carpal tunnel surgery negligence, you could make an injury claim.
What Happens If I Suffered Negligent Carpal Tunnel Surgery?
Sometimes, unfortunately, a person’s carpal tunnel syndrome can be worse after they have had surgery. They may suffer a worsening of symptoms, including pain and discomfort.
Can Carpal Tunnel Surgery Go Wrong?
Carpal tunnel surgery can go wrong. Sometimes complications arise in surgery, even when the medical professionals involved meet the expected standard of care. However, if negligence is involved and you were caused harm as a result, you may be able to claim. For example, if you underwent unnecessary carpal tunnel surgery despite your surgeon being aware of other forms of treatment that meant surgery wasn’t needed.
Some other examples of how carpal tunnel surgery can go wrong include:
- If the corticosteroid injection is injected straight into the nerve itself
- The surgery does not correct the problem as the nerve is not sufficiently decompressed causing the patient to have surgery again
Along with other possible problems, both will cause the patient to suffer furthermore with pain, discomfort and inconvenience.
If you have experienced more pain and suffering after having carpal tunnel surgery and you believe it was due to the negligence of the medical staff who were supposed to be caring for you and making you better, then you can claim for carpal tunnel surgery compensation. Contact a medical negligence solicitor at Legal Expert and they will endeavour to help you receive the best carpal tunnel compensation awards that they can.
Is There A Time Limit In Carpal Tunnel Surgery Claims?
Yes, there is a time limit in carpal tunnel surgery claims. The time limit is usually 3 years, as per the Limitation Act 1980, which runs from the date negligence occurred.
However, this time limit won’t start for claimants who are either:
- Lacking their full mental capacity.
- Under 18 years old.
In these cases, someone (such as a family member) could be appointed as the claimant’s litigation friend. This means they can make a carpal tunnel claim on the claimant’s behalf.
A litigation friend has until the claimant either:
- Recovers their full mental capacity
- Turns 18
To step in.
If a litigation friend hasn’t stepped in at this point, then the 3-year time limit will run from either the date:
- The claimant recovered their mental capacity.
- Of the claimant’s 18th birthday.
For more information on how to claim carpal tunnel compensation on someone else’s behalf, please contact us today. Additionally, our advisors can give you more information on what the best next steps for you are once you’ve discussed your circumstances with them. It’s absolutely free to contact us, and you can do so at a time that best suits you.
Carpal Tunnel Medical Negligence Case Study
The case study below is an example of the effects that negligence in carpal tunnel treatment or surgery can have and how it might happen. If you have been similarly affected by carpal tunnel surgery negligence you can contact our team.
Following on from carpal tunnel surgery, a 66-year-old lady sustained a motor branch nerve injury. After suffering pins and needles with numbness in both hands, but mainly in her left hand, for around two years, with it becoming more and more apparent in her daily activities, the lady was referred by a Doctor to the Kent and Sussex Hospital for surgery. She was given a consent form to read and sign but the only warnings on the form that recorded possible complications were chances of ‘tender scar, pillar pain’.
However, following the surgery, the lady complained of loss of function and muscle wastage to her thumb and hand, also her thumb had reduced movement, her relaxed thumb position had altered and in certain cases, her grip strength was weaker.
These symptoms showed that the lady had suffered some nerve damage during her carpal tunnel surgery which she was never told could be a possibility, had she been told this, she would not have gone ahead with the surgery and would have taken more time to assess any other options. Not only had the lady sustained nerve damage, but she also had scarring due to the surgery as well.
In this case, informed consent was not taken meaning that although the lady gave her consent by signing the consent form for the operation to go ahead, she hadn’t been properly informed of the possible consequences of undergoing the surgery.
The lady, in this case, took her problem to a solicitor who then filed a medical negligence claim against the Kent and Sussex Hospital on her behalf and they secured an early settlement amount out of court for an undisclosed sum plus the costs of the legal fees.
If you have been misinformed of the risks associated with carpal tunnel surgery and have sustained an unexpected injury as a result, contact Legal Expert today so that we can help you to claim compensation for carpal tunnel surgery.
When Claiming Compensation For Carpal Tunnel Surgery, What Can My Claim Include?
When making a carpal tunnel surgery compensation claim, there are a number of things that you should include:
- General Damages – These will cover the costs of the physical and mental aspects of the injury and the amount awarded will be reflective of its severity and the amount of pain and suffering you have endured. Any long term physical symptoms problems associated with the injury will also be taken into account.
- Medical Expenses – Any medical costs incurred that are of a direct result of the injury can be claimed for, these may include medical care costs, prescription fees, counselling costs etc.
- Travel Expenses – Any extra travel costs that are a direct consequence of the injury can be included. This also includes any vehicle adaptions that have had to be made to accommodate the changes in physical capability due to the injury sustained.
- Care Claim – If you have needed extra help and care in the home, then the person caring for you can file a care claim to cover any expenses such as lost wages etc, that they may have incurred due to looking after you.
- Loss of Earnings – Any wages lost due to a forced absence from work caused by your injuries.
Any reputable medical negligence claims firm should make sure that everything that could be included in the claim is included to help ensure you gain the maximum award amount possible and so that you get the compensation you deserve.
Carpal Tunnel Claim Payouts
Now that we’ve discussed how you could make a carpal tunnel claim, you might also wonder, ‘how much compensation can you get. Although it wouldn’t be possible to give you an exact figure without knowing all the circumstances of your claim, we could give you an idea of what you might receive for general damages.
We are able to do this by taking compensation ranges from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). The JCG features payout examples based on compensation awarded in previous court claims. Solicitors will often use these guidelines alongside any medical evidence to estimate carpal tunnel claim payouts.
Please bear in mind when looking at this table that this is for guidance only, and the top figure isn’t from the JCG.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation Guideline |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries with special damages | Serious | Up to £250,000+ |
| Hand | Serious - one hand (e) | £35,390 to £75,550 |
| Very serious - thumb (s) | £23,920 to £42,720 | |
| Serious - thumb (t) | £15,370 to £20,460 | |
| Moderate - thumb (u) | £11,800 to £15,370 | |
| Wrist | Complete loss of function (a) | £58,710 to £73,050 |
| Significant permanent disability (b) | £29,900 to £47,810 | |
| Less severe (c) | £15,370 to £29,900 | |
| Soft-tissue injury or fracture (d) | £7,420 to £12,630 |
The final settlement award you receive may also compensate you for special damages. One of our advisors could offer you a more accurate estimation. Get in touch today to find out more.
[link_btns]
No Win No Fee Carpal Tunnel Surgery Claims
We offer a No Win, No Fee service, also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement for everybody to get a chance to claim compensation.
It basically is an agreement that sets out what is expected from us and from you as our client. We will only ask for payment if and when your case is successful and you are awarded a compensation amount. We take a set percentage of your award amount when the payment has been released.
Can I Sue For Failed Carpal Tunnel Surgery?
If you suffered harm due to negligent carpal tunnel surgery, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. If your surgery went wrong due to negligence and you suffered harm as a result, contact our team of advisors. They can offer a free consultation, and then connect you with one of our experienced No Win No Fee solicitors.
How To Make Your Claim With The Team At Legal Expert
Making carpal tunnel surgery negligence claims can seem complex but we could help. It’s as simple as picking up your phone and giving us a call. You will speak to a member of our team who will arrange a free consultation. We will also use this opportunity to assess if you have a legitimate claim.
Once we’ve established the details, we will then begin gathering evidence.
You can focus on your recovery as we will only contact you for further information or to provide updates.
Talk To Us Now
We hope our guide to carpal tunnel surgery claims has helped you. You can learn more about carpal tunnel surgery negligence and unnecessary carpal tunnel surgery by contacting our team.
Call us today on 0800 073 8804 for free help and advice about making a carpal tunnel surgery negligence claim. We are a team of highly experienced medical negligence claims specialists that have a brilliant track record of success. Remember, you can contact us by filling in our online form. Alternatively, you can use the pop up live chat window in the bottom right.
Useful Resources And Links
- How Much Compensation For Orthopaedic Negligence Claims?
- A Guide to Bed Sores/Pressure Sore Negligence Compensation Claims
- Breast Cancer Negligence Compensation Claims Guide
FAQs Carpal Tunnel Surgery Claims
Below, you can find answers to common questions on carpal tunnel surgery claims:
How do median nerve injuries impact your hand?
There are two main nerves in the hand. These are the ulnar nerve and the median nerve. If the median nerve is damaged, you could suffer serious impairment in the use of your hand. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel, which is a passageway in your wrist. The carpal tunnel connects your hand and your forearm. Carpal tunnel syndrome typically occurs when the nerve becomes squeezed or compressed.
Carpal tunnel surgery could cause you to suffer a variety of injuries. Median nerve damage is one of the most common of these. Other nerve injuries could include complications from negligent carpal tunnel surgery. People could also suffer harm caused by wrong-site surgery as well as surgical treatment delays.
What Complications Can You Have After Carpal Tunnel Surgery?
You could experience complications such as infections, injuries to the surrounding blood vessels, nerve damage, or excessive bleeding. Seek medical attention if you experience any of the following a carpal tunnel surgery.
Thank you for reading our guide on carpal tunnel surgery claims.