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S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | A U G U S T 2 0 1 4
M
ore upper-extremity sur-
geries are moving to the
outpatient setting,
thanks to advances in
regional anesthesia and
refined arthroscopic techniques that result in
less tissue dissection. Most cases are per-
formed relatively quickly with rapid room
turnovers, making upper extremities a high-
volume specialty
with no shortage
of patients.
Professional ath-
letes with finger fractures and desk workers
with carpal tunnel syndrome are all seeking
out facilities with talented hand, wrist and
elbow specialists. Let's take a closer look at
some of the procedures that make up most
upper-extremity surgeons' caseloads.
• Carpal tunnel release
is typically a hand
and wrist surgeon's highest volume proce-
dure. Surgeons perform the release as a stan-
dard open procedure or endoscopically
U P P E R E X T R E M I T I E S
Hands,
Wrists
& Elbows
How your
ortho service
line can
benefit from
upper-
extremity
procedures.
R. Glenn Gaston, MD
Charlotte, N.C.
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Hand surgeons are high-volume pro-
ducers for orthopedic surgery centers.
