Overcoming Patient Hesitation with Excellent Outcomes
For nearly 30 years, Dr. Nader Paksima, an orthopedic surgeon at New York University Langone Orthopedic Hospital in New York City, has strived to achieve great outcomes that quickly return his patients to their daily activities, passions, and work, free of pain and limitations.
In addition to training the next generation of physicians with the most innovative approaches, including ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release (UGCTR), Dr. Paksima treats patients of all ages and backgrounds. Since integrating UGCTR into his practice, Dr. Paksima has performed over 100 UGCTR procedures.
“I see a lot of patients who have bilateral carpal tunnel, and we used to wait six weeks between the two surgeries. Now, after a couple of weeks, my patients are asking to have the other side done. The recovery is just faster and easier,” Dr. Paksima says.
From Reluctance to Relief
Many of Dr. Paksima’s carpal tunnel syndrome patients have suffered with the condition for years out of a belief that treatment would mean being out of commission for a long period, with bulky bandages and a slow recovery. “In their mind, they think about this problem as a really insurmountable issue, and they just live with it rather than get it taken care of,” says Dr. Paksima.
“Once I explain to them that they’ll just be under local anesthesia, and they can use their hand that same day to eat, cook, and do things like that, they feel a lot more comfortable and go ahead and get the treatment,” says Dr. Paksima.
“It’s been really fun to see patients when they come back and they’re just ecstatic,” Dr. Paksima says with a laugh. “The first week, their pain level is very low, and they’re using their hands. I’ve really enjoyed being able to give this service to them, where they can get back to doing the things they love much sooner.”
Seeing Is Believing
Prior to adding UGCTR to his practice, Dr. Paksima was an infrequent user of ultrasound technology. He was first introduced to the concept of UGCTR by a fellow physician and friend in Florida who had attended Sonex Health’s MSK Ultrasound Mini-Fellowship for minimally invasive techniques using ultrasound guidance. The physician praised the innovative procedure for its superior outcomes and fast recovery.
“He was really excited about UGCTR,” says Dr. Paksima. “So, I flew down to Florida and spent a day with him in his surgery center watching him do these procedures. When I saw his patients who had surgery the week before and how well they were doing, it motivated me to attend the New York City Mini-Fellowship and begin integrating it into my practice,” he says.
Dr. Paksima recalls a patient he treated with UGCTR using UltraGuideCTR™ who wanted to go on a cruise with his wife in a matter of weeks. He was hesitant to have another operation because past surgeries involved prolonged recoveries. Dr. Paksima assured him that he would be okay and able to go on the cruise. “So I did it, and he came back the next week and just couldn’t believe it. He got to go on his cruise and do the things he wanted to do,” says Dr. Paksima.
Congratulations, Dr. Paksima
For his dedication to providing his patients with great outcomes that get them back to the activities and lives they love quickly, Dr. Paksima has recently been named a Center of Excellence by The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound-Guided Procedures and Sonex Health.
“It’s an honor to be recognized with this distinction,” says Dr. Paksima. “I’m thrilled to have learned this new skill that lets me do something really beneficial for my patients.”
Learn more about The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and our training programs to begin your MSK ultrasound training today.