The Nano Experience for Hand and Wrist
How Does Nano Work?
Nano surgery is performed using a tiny camera at the tip of a needle-like device, making it ideal for small spaces such as the joints and small bones of the hand and wrist. The procedure only requires a tiny incision, leads to less tenderness than traditional surgical options,1 and gets patients back to activity faster than traditional surgery.2
Additionally, most procedures can be performed outside the traditional operating room setting, and you will work with your doctor to determine the best anesthesia level for your procedure and comfort level. Many Nano arthroscopy procedures for the wrist can be performed using just local anesthesia.3
Nano arthroscopy can also be used for patients who cannot undergo MRI. It can help your doctor see and diagnose your injury or condition in an office setting.
The Nano Experience
See what the Nano Experience is like for patients undergoing a hand and wrist procedure.
What Can Nano Treat?
While conservative treatments like injections, medications, and physical therapy may provide some relief for hand and wrist conditions, your doctor may recommend surgery to fix the underlying problem causing your symptoms.
Nano surgical equipment is extremely minimally invasive and can be used to diagnose and treat a variety of injuries and conditions, including:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a very common condition that occurs when the nerve that runs from your forearm into your hand becomes compressed. People with CTS may experience symptoms including numbness, weakness, and/or pain in the hand and wrist.
Nano arthroscopy can be used for carpal tunnel release, during which the tight ligament is cut to release pressure on the nerve.
Arthritis
Nano instrumentation can be used to treat several types of arthritis, including septic (or bacterial), inflammatory, and degenerative.
Your doctor may recommend Nano arthroscopy for septic arthritis, which is caused by bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, to clean out the affected joint using techniques called irrigation and debridement.
Synovectomy is a surgical procedure to treat the synovium, a thin membrane that lines certain joints and that can contribute to common inflammatory arthritis symptoms, such as joint pain, swelling, warmth, tenderness, and stiffness after periods of inactivity.
Degenerative arthritis, or osteoarthritis (OA), occurs from wear and tear on your joint. This causes the cartilage (protective tissue between bones) to deteriorate, which can lead to both immediate and chronic pain. Nano arthroscopy can be used to clean up, or debride, the joint and repair the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) in the wrist, which is a common location for OA.
Instability and Pain of the Hand and Wrist
Instability of the hand and wrist can occur when the ligaments that connect the bones, called interosseous ligaments, become stretched out. Nano arthroscopy can be used for procedures that restabilize those ligaments.
Distal Ulnar Pain
The distal ulna is an important bone that helps the wrist bear weight, move, and rotate. Injuries to this bone can cause pain associated with gripping and extension motions. Your doctor may use Nano arthroscopy to perform a distal ulnar shortening procedure, which can be customized based on the severity of your condition and your anatomy.
Other Procedures
Nano instrumentation can also be used to:
- Scope (view) inside the hand and wrist to diagnose various conditions
- Remove loose pieces of bone and cartilage that have detached and can cause pain
- Resect (remove) fluid-filled ganglion cysts, which are commonly found over the joints and tendons of the wrist
- Help treat and repair fractures of the hand and wrist
Recovery Timeline
If you need surgery, Nano arthroscopy procedures can help you return to activities faster than traditional surgery.2
Postoperative management is patient-specific and dependent on the treating professional's assessment. Individual results will vary and not all patients will experience the same postoperative activity level or outcomes.
Your doctor will provide specific guidance on what to do immediately after your procedure. Patients may not need to use as many narcotics as with traditional surgery.4
Why Nano Arthroscopy for the Hand and Wrist?
One surgeon shares why he incorporates Nano arthroscopy into his hand and wrist procedures.
“My favorite benefit of Nano technology is the improvement in visualization it affords me, especially in those areas where it was harder to place traditional arthroscopes.”
Rochester, MN