Speeding Patient Recovery and Changing Lives
Quickly returning patients to their lives by providing the most advanced treatments has been the mission driving Dr. Micev’s work at the Hand Center of Nevada in Las Vegas. That goal led him to explore more minimally invasive treatment options for carpal tunnel release (CTR) and trigger finger release (TFR). He started offering CTR with real-time ultrasound guidance (UGCTR) two years ago, and soon after, added TFR with real-time ultrasound guidance (UGTFR) to his practice as well.
The transition from traditional open surgery to minimally invasive ultrasound-guided techniques was monumental for Dr. Micev and life-changing for his patients. “It was a dramatic shift, taking a procedure known for being done in an operating room to performing it in an office setting with very fast recovery,” Dr. Micev says. “I’ve had patients back at work, bowling, or playing tennis within days of a procedure performed using UltraGuideCTR™ or UltraGuideTFR™.”
Compelled by Ultrasound Technology
Dr. Micev recalls first hearing about UGCTR two years ago and being skeptical yet fascinated that it could be performed without stitches, leaving only a small incision. He and his team traveled to The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures in Minneapolis to attend Sonex Health’s MSK Ultrasound Mini-Fellowship for minimally invasive techniques using ultrasound guidance. Dr. Micev says he realized during the course that this technique was the future of CTR and TFR procedures. “It was an eye-opening moment for me,” he says. “I could see how it could be performed in an office setting under local anesthesia rather than requiring a trip to the operating room in a hospital or surgery center.”
Shortly after that first mini-fellowship, Dr. Micev attended another program for UGTFR and added UltraGuideTFR to his practice. The technique revolutionized his approach to TFR treatment to an even greater degree, enabling patients to better tolerate and recover from bilateral and multiple finger releases in just one office visit to his practice. The technique revolutionized his approach to TFR treatment to an even greater degree, enabling patients to better tolerate and recover from bilateral and multiple finger releases in just one office visit.
With well over 200 ultrasound-guided procedures performed since 2023, Dr. Micev says his practice now uses the technology multiple times every day, so much so that it required an office reconfiguration. “We decided to redesign our entire office and build a dedicated ultrasound-guided procedure suite to accommodate the growing use and demand for this advanced approach,” he says. “It’s a monumental paradigm shift in terms of healthcare and treating patients.” The techniques’ potential to eliminate the need for preoperative testing, and transition procedures from hospitals or surgery centers into the office setting has made a huge impact on patient care for Dr. Micev.
Getting Patients Back to Their Lives Quickly
Dr. Micev reports that patients recovering from procedures employing real-time ultrasound guidance techniques are far ahead of those undergoing traditional open surgery. “When there aren’t sutures and the incision is the size of a paper cut, patients are able to return to their normal lives and resume daily activities much faster,” he says.
One TFR patient in particular, who worked as a hotel bellman, stands out for Dr. Micev. The patient used his hands every day lifting heavy luggage and couldn’t afford to take time off for surgery, nor did he want stitches limiting his ability to do his job. “After non-operative treatments failed, the patient specifically requested UGTFR. We performed this technique on two fingers on a Friday, and he was back at work the following Monday,” Dr. Micev says. “It is truly a demonstration of how minimally invasive this technology is.”
Congratulations, Dr. Micev
For his steadfast commitment to providing exceptional patient outcomes, Dr. Micev has recently been named a Center of Excellence by The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and Sonex Health.
“We are so proud of this accomplishment and to be the only Center of Excellence in Southern Nevada. It really is a testament to our people and the hard work we are doing to provide this service to our patients at the Hand Center of Nevada every day.”
