The second most common type of surgery in the country – carpal tunnel release – is now offered at UPMC St. Margaret in a less invasive form that permits earlier return to work and to activity. Daniel R. Lueders, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor with Burke and Bradley Orthopedics – UPMC, is offering the ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release procedure near you.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
The median nerve runs through your wrist in a small space called the carpal tunnel where it can be stretched or compressed. This can result in symptoms of hand pain, numbness, and weakness that can begin gradually and worsen over time, especially during activities that involve repetitive wrist and hand movements.
The most common symptoms felt in the hand and fingers include:
- Tingling or feeling of pins and needles.
- Pain that may also travel up the arm to the shoulder.
- Difficulty grasping small items.
Multiple causes can contribute to the condition, and genetics, age, and gender may increase risk. Women are three times more likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome than men.
Traditional treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome
Before considering surgery, doctors often prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, splinting, and activity modifications. But when those treatments don’t help, surgery may be necessary.
Traditional carpal tunnel surgery consists of an open or endoscopic procedure in which an incision up to 1 inch (24 mm) in length is made on the hand and uses surgical instruments to alleviate compression of the nerve within the carpal tunnel. But over the years, less invasive techniques like endoscopic surgeries and ultrasound-guided procedures have become more common as they produce less collateral damage and typically result in faster recovery times.
The benefits of ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release
Physicians with expertise in the use of ultrasound as a diagnostic and interventional tool can now utilize a surgical device specifically designed to complete a release of the transverse carpal ligament under ultrasound guidance to resolve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
This procedure is performed through only a 3-5 mm skin incision at the forearm, entirely sparing the hand and requires no stitches, only a sterile skin bandage. It is completed under local numbing medicine, so no regional or general anesthesia are needed. The safety features of the specifically-designed device, as well as continuous visualization and monitoring under ultrasound, ensure the safety of blood vessels and nerves and a complete, successful carpal tunnel release.
“The more proximal incision at the wrist crease spares the skin of the hand from an incision and stitches, allowing patients to bear weight and to use their hand almost immediately after the procedure, which has contributed to much earlier return of function and very high patient satisfaction”, says Dr. Lueders.
Studies have demonstrated relief of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms and the improvement in hand function as early as one week after the procedure and continued benefit at one and three years after the procedure, similar to an open or endoscopic surgery. “It is exciting to see innovations in medical devices and advancements in imaging tools combine to achieve a breakthrough procedure to effectively treat such a common but debilitating condition. An intervention such as this achieves earlier improvement in hand symptoms and function because of the smaller incision that spares the skin of the hand, which gets patients back to work and back to the activities that they love faster,” Dr. Lueders says.
World-class care, close to home
UPMC St. Margaret is dedicated to serving the communities in northeastern Allegheny County and the Allegheny-Kiski Valley and strives to offer the most advanced care options to residents.
Daniel R. Lueders, MD, is now performing ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release as an outpatient procedure at UPMC St. Margaret.
To learn more about the procedure or schedule an evaluation with Dr. Lueders, please call Burke and Bradley Orthopedics – UPMC at 412-784-5770.