This was a prospective study designed to determine what effect poor tolerance to tourniquet application and local anaesthesia infiltration in open carpal tunnel decompression has on overall patient satisfaction with the surgical procedure. Fifty patients were recruited into the study. Visual analogue scores (VAS) were recorded postoperatively for pain related to tourniquet application, local anaesthesia infiltration and the surgical procedure overall. In terms of the procedure, poor tolerance to the tourniquet and local anaesthetic showed no significant relationship to the overall patient satisfaction (Student t-test). The factors, which are related to satisfaction with carpal tunnel decompression, are discussed.