Patients always ask one simple question: “What does carpal tunnel surgery cost?” But it's one of the most complicated and involved questions to answer. That’s because the answer depends mainly upon:

• Which type of surgery you have
• What kind of facility the surgery is performed in
• Whether or not you have complications
• How well and how quickly you recover 

For the actual hands-on operation, it’s easy to come up with a dollar amount for the cost. As a matter of fact, your doctor or surgical center will estimate that for you. It includes the fees for the:

• Facility
• Anesthesia
• Doctors
  

However, the above factors can only give you estimates of the fees. And usually those factors don't include rehab fees. Actually, most people never consider all of the hand rehabilitation fees, which are much more variable.

The rehab fees depend on the success and speed of your carpal tunnel recovery time. For instance, if you have complications or you don’t recover well, the cost increases dramatically. This also impacts your job and wages, making the actual cost of having surgery even higher. In fact, in poor-outcome circumstances those costs can increase many-fold compared to the original fee estimates.

So if you ask, "How much doe s carpal tunnel surgery cost?" you must also consider how much the actual operation will impact your wallet in the weeks, months or even years to come.

Accurately answering the question, “What does carpal tunnel surgery cost?” depends on what “cost” really means. For purposes of this discussion, we’ll focus on uninsured, out-of-pocket costs.

First, there is the actual fee to the facility, anesthesiologist, and doctors. However, if you have complications then those costs usually go up. Costs usually vary from scenario to scenario, depending on how well you recover from surgery.

Complications like bleeding can make the usual 30-45 minute surgery take twice as long. Other problems like infection will delay recovery, require more post-surgical visits, and usually cost more. Also, costs will differ with any unusual complications like accidental damage to the median nerve or reaction to the anesthesia. 

• Facility services: $1,297
• Doctors’ fees: $746
• Anesthesia: $408

Total outpatient carpal tunnel surgery cost without complications is $2,451

• Facility services: $4,200 (includes 2-night stay)
• Doctors’ fees: $746
• Anesthesia: $408

Total hospital carpal tunnel surgery cost without complications is $5,354

Physical therapy and rehabilitation are almost always required after carpal tunnel release surgery, no matter which surgical technique was used. The recovery period can vary from 4 to 12 months. In some cases, it’s even longer. Generally, your  carpal surgery recovery time period depends on your ability to heal, and daily commitment to physical therapy.

Finally, it’s not unusual for recovery and rehab fees to far surpass the surgical costs. Without significant complications, the average cost of rehabilitation, physical therapy, and work-related expenses range between $12,500 and $28,000.

There is another carpal tunnel surgery cost few patients ever consider. That is, the expense of lost job time. This affects both the patient and the employer. In fact, the repetitive stress injury you received in your occupation is what probably caused your carpal tunnel syndrome to begin with. 

As a result of the occupational contribution to this disorder, only 10-23% of patients return to their former profession after carpal tunnel surgery. The remainder must refrain from doing the job that made their hands sick in the first place.

Moreover, few statistics factor in the additional “cost” of:

• Lost wages between jobs
• The emotional weight of unemployment
• Stresses placed upon the family of the unemployed worker

Therefore, when considering surgery, it’s easy to see how “ carpal tunnel surgery cost ” takes on a new and wider meaning.

Your total carpal tunnel surgery cost goes well beyond the fees your doctor or clinic estimates for your hand operation. Variables that can drive up the total cost depend upon the outcome (success) of the surgery as well as the rehab period that follows. In addition, loss of job time and wages should be factored into the final "cost" of the procedure. Therefore, the answer to the question, "How much does carpal tunnel surgery cost?" also depends on what happens after the operation.