How long does recovery generally take after hand surgery?

Recovery from hand surgery may take from four weeks to several months, depending on the type of surgery. Open surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome has a recovery period of up to 12 weeks, whereas endoscopic surgery for the condition can require just four weeks of recovery, states WebMD.

Some types of hand surgery require a very long period of recovery. Patients must undergo several months of therapy with a professional hand therapist following surgery to replace one or more of the joints in the hand, according to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. The patient may need to wear a splint during recovery from this type of hand surgery.