Carpal tunnel and wrist fracture surgery.
Dr Coory holds MBBS, Dip.Surg.Anat, FRACS and FAOrthA qualifications and completed subspecialty fellowship training in shoulder and upper limb surgery. His hand and wrist practice is focused on the two problems that bring most adults to an upper limb surgeon: carpal tunnel syndrome, and the broken wrist (distal radius fracture). Both are treated routinely, both are usually managed as day surgery when an operation is needed, and both are assessed together with the elbow and shoulder above them.
That wider view is useful. Numbness in the hand can come from the wrist, the elbow or the neck, and a wrist fracture from a fall often comes with a shoulder or elbow injury on the same side. Looking at the whole limb at the first appointment avoids treating the wrong level.
Hand and wrist conditions treated.
Each page below explains the condition, how it is diagnosed, and when surgery helps.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Night-time numbness and tingling in the thumb, index and middle fingers from median nerve compression.
FractureDistal radius fracture
The broken wrist, and the decision between a cast and surgery.
Hand and wrist surgery.
Both operations are routinely performed as day surgery, with hand therapy planned from the start.
Endoscopic carpal tunnel release
Keyhole release of the carpal tunnel, with open release where it suits the case better.
FractureDistal radius ORIF
Open reduction and internal fixation of a displaced wrist fracture with a volar locking plate.
Carpal tunnel surgery on the Sunshine Coast.
Carpal tunnel syndrome often starts with numbness that wakes you at night. Early cases are treated with a night splint and a change in how the hand is used. Nerve conduction studies measure how much the median nerve is affected, and help decide whether the time has come to release it.
When release is recommended, Dr Coory commonly performs it endoscopically, through a small keyhole approach, as a day procedure under local anaesthetic with sedation or a regional block. Open release remains the right choice for some patients, and the choice is made case by case after assessment.
Wrist fracture surgery.
Many wrist fractures heal well in a cast. Surgery is considered when the fracture is displaced, unstable or extends into the joint, because the position the bone heals in shapes how the wrist works for years afterwards. Distal radius open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF of the distal radius) restores the alignment and holds it with a plate placed on the palm side of the wrist, which allows hand therapy to start early.
Wrist fractures are time-sensitive. If you have been told your wrist fracture may need an operation, ask your GP or the treating hospital to send the referral and X-rays through promptly.
Where Dr Coory consults.
Two consulting locations, at Maroochydore and Noosaville, cover the Sunshine Coast. All appointments are made on 07 5493 8038. See all locations and directions.
The rest of the upper limb is covered too: shoulder surgeon on the Sunshine Coast and elbow surgery.
Frequently asked questions.
Is endoscopic carpal tunnel release a day procedure?
Yes. It is usually performed as day surgery under local anaesthetic with sedation, or a regional block. A light dressing is used rather than a plaster, and most people return to desk work within days. Heavier manual work takes a few weeks and is guided by recovery.
Does every broken wrist need surgery?
No. Stable, well-aligned fractures are usually treated in a cast. Surgery is considered for fractures that are displaced, unstable or involve the joint surface, where fixing the bone in the right position gives the wrist a better chance of working well long term.
Do I need a nerve test before carpal tunnel surgery?
Nerve conduction studies are commonly used to confirm the diagnosis and measure how much the median nerve is affected. If you have already had the test, bring or send the report to your appointment.
Do I need a referral?
A current referral is needed to claim a Medicare rebate on the consultation. A GP referral lasts 12 months and a specialist referral lasts 3 months. You can still book without one, but the consultation will not attract a rebate. WorkCover Queensland and compulsory third party claims are also seen; contact the rooms first so the paperwork can be arranged.
Where does Dr Coory consult and operate?
Dr Coory consults at Maroochydore and Noosaville, and all appointments are made on 07 5493 8038, Monday to Friday. He operates at Maroochy Private Hospital and Buderim Private Hospital. Day-surgery procedures are planned so that most patients go home the same day.