Dr. Halil Can Gemalmaz is a professor of orthopedics and traumatology in Istanbul. He is a pioneer in Turkey for 3D patient-specific orthopedic procedures. Dr. Gemalmaz specializes in robotic-assisted joint replacements for the knee and hip. He currently serves as a faculty member at Atlas University Faculty of Medicine.
Dr. Murat Kezer is an orthopedic surgeon at Turan Turan Health Group in Bursa. He specializes in robotic knee and hip replacement using the MAKO system. Dr. Kezer treats complex conditions, including ligament tears, bone fractures, and joint deformities.
Dr. Akif Albayrak leads clinical and surgical spine services at Central Hospital in Istanbul. He is a professor specializing in complex spinal disorders for adults and children. Dr. Albayrak completed a fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He focuses on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of scoliosis and kyphosis.
Dr. Mehmet Aydogan is an orthopedic and spine surgeon at Memorial Şişli Hospital. He specializes in scoliosis treatment, degenerative spine disease, and complex joint reconstruction. Dr. Aydogan completed a research fellowship at the UCLA Comprehensive Spine Center. He previously served as the head of a spine surgery center in Istanbul.
Turkish clinics report a success rate of 85% to 95% for carpal tunnel release surgery. Surgeons routinely perform both open and endoscopic procedures. Most patients achieve rapid relief from night pain and tingling. Serious complications occur in approximately 1% of cases.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Success in Turkey often stems from high surgical volumes. For example, Dr Adnan Kara has performed over 12,000 procedures. Patients should look for specialists at centres like EMOT Hospital. It focuses entirely on hand surgery and microsurgery. This specific focus often leads to more precise nerve decompression than general orthopaedic clinics.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Turkey find that earlier surgery before major nerve damage leads to near-complete recovery. While sleep improves quickly, many note that rebuilding grip strength can take several months.
Turkish clinics offer carpal tunnel syndrome treatment. Options range from conservative wrist splinting to minimally invasive release surgery. Specialists at JCI-accredited facilities like Memorial Şişli Hospital assess nerve compression with electromyography (EMG). They then recommend open, mini-open, or camera-assisted endoscopic surgical release.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Many general hospitals offer basic release surgery. However, access to microsurgical expertise comes from seeking specialists at dedicated hand surgery centres. This includes doctors like Dr Yusuf Gürbüz or Dr Bakıt Kerekulov. Bookimed data shows these surgeons often have international fellowships in Europe or the USA. This is vital for patients needing complex nerve repair beyond simple decompression.
Patient Consensus: Patients in Turkey find night bracing most effective for early relief. Those choosing surgery often prefer endoscopic methods to treat both hands simultaneously. Experience suggests focusing on postoperative massage and ergonomics is just as important. This is as important as the procedure itself for long-term recovery.
Recovery after carpal tunnel surgery in Turkey typically allows for light hand use within 1 to 4 days. Most patients return to normal daily tasks by week 4. Full strength and nerve sensation generally recover within 3 to 12 months. This depends on the preoperative compression severity.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While most clinics recommend a 7 to 10-day stay, choosing a specialist with international training can streamline the process. Doctors like Dr Yusuf Gurbuz and Dr Can Yener have trained in France and the USA. Their clinics often use minimally invasive techniques. These may allow Australian patients to fly home sooner after the initial wound check.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that while the skin looks healed in 2 weeks, internal soreness continues. Many report being able to type within days. However, they warn that full grip strength takes 8 weeks to return in Turkey.
For carpal tunnel release surgery, patients should plan to stay 7–10 days in Turkey. The procedure itself takes only 30 minutes. However, the 7–10 day stay is needed for mandatory wound checks and suture removal. Choosing JCI-accredited clinics in Istanbul or Bursa means these appointments meet international safety standards.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Turkish orthopaedic specialists often have high procedure volumes. For example, Dr Omer Can Ozkan has performed over 2,150 procedures. This experience allows surgeons to offer ultra-minimally invasive techniques. These may reduce the necessary stay to 5 days. This depends on your local GP in Australia handling suture removal.
Patient Consensus: Patients recommend confirming whether post-operative checks can be done via telehealth. They also suggest building in extra days for dressing changes. They also note that managing luggage is difficult with a bandaged hand. So arranging airport transfers is essential for comfort in Turkey.