Holdrege Rotarians learned about Carpal Tunnel Release with ultrasound guidance from Jacob Peterson, MD, Family Medical Specialties. Dr. Peterson told Rotarians Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common condition that causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm.
Carpal tunnel release is a surgical procedure that releases pressure off the median nerve. He stated that carpal tunnel release using ultrasound guidance offers a faster recovery period compared to traditional surgical procedures.
“With carpal tunnel syndrome, the first symptoms you will notice are tingling and numbness sensation of the thumb and first three fingers. This can progress to complete numbness,” he said.
While many people relate carpal tunnel to using a keyboard or other repetitive motions, it is caused by genetics and health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and obesity.
“I can diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome with virtually no pain with ultrasound,” said Dr. Peterson. He added that traditional surgery left a long scar on the patient’s wrist and recovery took much longer.
The release procedure with ultrasound guidance is an alternative surgical option to the traditional method. This method utilizes the Sonex Health SX-One Microknife® and an ultrasound to guide the device through small incisions to relieve pressure on the median nerve. He showed this device to Rotarians.
Dr. Peterson explained that “by using the new equipment a patient will leave with a 3mm incision closed with a steri-strip.”
One Rotarian asked a question regarding scar tissue from a previous procedure. Dr. Peterson explained that “This device is only licensed to perform the surgery on someone who has never had carpal tunnel surgery on that wrist in the past.”
He explained that this micro-invasive procedure allows most patients to return to work and activities within 3-6 days versus months. Most patients return to normal activity in a few days and typically only need aspirin or ibuprofen for pain management.
Currently, Dr. Peterson’s patients are averaging 1.6 days to be symptom-free, and 4 days to full recovery.
Dr. Peterson said he’s done approximately 40 procedures since beginning doing them last October.
Keri Berry, Phelps Memorial Health Center, was in charge of the program.
Pictured: Monty Vonasek, Holdrege Rotary Co-President, Mira Yousef, Jacob Peterson, MD, and Keri Berry. Ms. Yousef is a 3rd-year medical student from UNMC who is on a rotation at Family Medical Specialties.
