Getting Patients Back in the Game with Great Outcomes
From high school sports teams to professional athletes — including serving as the team physician for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Dr. Chuck Peterson of Arizona Sports Medicine Center in Phoenix makes it his top priority to get patients back to the activities they love, fast.
Dr. Peterson has dedicated his entire career to interventional sports medicine, employing ultrasound technology from the very start of the practice he founded in 2003. As the first physician in the Phoenix area to offer ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release (UGCTR) in 2022, Dr. Peterson has performed more than 175 UGCTR procedures to date.
Patients sharing their positive and life-changing experiences with UGCTR with friends and family are the primary source of the ever-increasing number of referrals to Dr. Peterson. “They are ecstatic when they find out about the short recovery time, that they don’t have to have anesthesia, and that the incision is small. They are very motivated to move forward with UGCTR,” says Dr. Peterson.
Fast and Easy Recovery, Not Just for Athletes
Though athletes make up a majority of Dr. Peterson’s patients, they come from all walks of life, ages, and interests. Even fellow physicians have trusted Dr. Peterson to perform their UGCTR procedures. He recalls one physician he treated with UGCTR using UltraGuideCTR™ who took full advantage of the fast recovery time. “I did her UGCTR at the end of the day on a Thursday, and she was seeing patients at 8:00 AM the next day,” says Dr. Peterson.
Dr. Peterson’s UGCTR patients are amazed by the size of the scar compared to other surgical options. “They can’t believe the small incision site after the procedure compared to what they’ve seen with mini-open surgeries. Patients brag about their scars all the time and say, ‘Look, you can’t even see it,’ and that is very fulfilling for me,” says Dr. Peterson
Outcomes that Change Lives
Helping patients regain function is a source of personal pride for Dr. Peterson. So confident in UGCTR, he felt comfortable performing the procedure on his own father-in-law. “Doing this for him was so important to me because I could help somebody I really love,” says Dr. Peterson. “And I was able to get him back to his abilities in a way that was really helpful in his life.”
One patient who had suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome for 25 years stands out as a special point of pride for Dr. Peterson. He had been struggling to care for his daughter, who had been quadriplegic since high school. Extreme numbness caused him to severely injure his index finger without realizing it while working in his garage. “After the UGCTR, I would see him regularly, and we would talk about the impact it had on his life. He was so happy he could feel his hand again and be able to take care of his daughter.”
Congratulations, Dr. Peterson
For his dedication to superior outcomes that profoundly impact the lives of his patients, Dr. Peterson was recently named a Center of Excellence physician by the Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and Sonex Health.
“To be honored with this distinction is wonderful,” says Dr. Peterson. “It’s a way for patients to discern that I’m experienced with UGCTR, which can help more patients suffering with carpal tunnel syndrome get treated with this procedure.”
Learn more about The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and our training programs to begin your MSK ultrasound training today.
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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.
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Improved Outcomes Drive Patient Growth
With a passion for innovation and getting his patients struggling with carpal tunnel syndrome back to their busy work and lives, Dr. Robert Kirtley of SGMC Health in Valdosta, GA has built a practice focused on ultrasound technology and ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release (UGCTR). That specialty has earned Dr. Kirtley a reputation for consistently providing patients with excellent outcomes that profoundly impact their lives.
Since starting his practice in 2019, Dr. Kirtley has treated over 1,200 patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with UGCTR. Patients consistently offer praise and rave reviews, highlighting his commitment to excellent care. “They’re thrilled that their hands won’t be cut open and left with a large scar,” he says. “They’re literally moving immediately afterward and getting back to work quickly.”
A True Believer
Dr. Kirtley remembers being impressed seeing UGCTR using UltraGuideCTR™ for the first time when it was introduced and knew it would be a game-changer. “Immediately, I understood how transformative the device really was and how it would revolutionize the patient experience,” Dr. Kirtley says. “Seeing just how well it worked left me in awe, and I fell in love with it.”
“Being able to see and transect the whole ligament makes it less likely there will be a return of symptoms,” Dr. Kirtley explains. “Providing a procedure that’s curative for the patient as well as streamlined, elegant, and simple for the physician is something we don’t have that often in medicine. That’s what’s revolutionary.”
Steady Growth By Word of Mouth
When Dr. Kirtley arrived in Valdosta, most carpal tunnel surgeries were being performed using the open approach. After a slow start, Dr. Kirtley’s excellent patient outcomes began to spread by word of mouth, driving more and more referrals. “I didn’t do a whole lot that first year, but the number rapidly increased after I moved to my own practice; then, each year it just cascaded,” he says. “Now I handle most of the business for carpal tunnel release, and that’s exciting.”
Dr. Kirtley’s patients are thrilled by the rapid relief and recovery they experience with UGCTR. He recalls one patient who had an unsuccessful open carpal tunnel release surgery that resulted in chronic pain in her hand. She visited Dr. Kirtley’s clinic and was surprised by how different the approach was. “She was happy that she could be diagnosed painlessly using ultrasound and didn’t have to be put to sleep during UGCTR,” he says. “She reported feeling pain relief immediately that night. The next day, it was just a world of difference for her.”
Congratulations Dr. Kirtley
For his innovative spirit and commitment to excellent patient outcomes, Dr. Kirtley was recently named a Center of Excellence physician by The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and Sonex Health.
“It means a lot to me to be recognized,” Dr. Kirtley says. “After years of building my practice, it is an honor to be named a center of excellence. I am committed to offering minimally invasive treatments that provide rapid return to function and doing the right thing for the patient.”
Learn more about The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and our training programs to begin your MSK ultrasound training today.