Our treatment protocol

Our treatment protocol has evolved over the last few years.  We have found that patients are wanting faster recovery, less painful surgery and a quicker return to work.

Whilst the protocol on this site is mainly geared to private patients as there are various funding constraints inherent in the NHS which preclude rapid treatment at a single visit.  However we do encourage patients who wish to use the NHS to still follow this protocol where ever possible.

We divide the protocol into three groups:

1. Patients who have never had surgical treament for the finger now under consideration
2. Patients who have had NA previously
3. Patients who have had traditional surgery to the finger they want treating this time.

Example

A patient comes to see me who has had surgery to their right little finger and now has recurrence in their right little finger and new disease in the left hand.

The right little finger would come under protocol 3 and would not be suitable for NA.  The left hand would come under protocol 2 and would be suitable for NA

The initial preoperative picture with contractures of the ring finger and mild contractures of the index and middle

 

Injecting the local anaesthetic, we use approximately 0.1ml of Lignocaine.

Using the needle to section the band in the ring finger

After the first sectioning.  There will be another two or three punctures in the ring finger to complete the process but none of the wounds will be larger than this.

The final picture.  There was some joint contracture in the ring finger which will improve with the splint.  No physiotherapy was required and the patient could return to all activities the following day.