ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

Orthopedic Surgery

Carpal Tunnel | ORIF | Diagnostic Arthroscopy

Carpal Tunnel Release

Carpal tunnel is a disease that affects the median nerve. It can cause pain and discomfort while using your hands. Many patients seek relief from this syndrome through surgery. Carpal tunnel release is recommended for patients who cannot get pain relief from other avenues of treatment.

The carpal tunnel is formed by bones spanning from your wrist to your hand. When the carpal ligament becomes inflamed, it puts pressure on the nerve that controls your hand and wrist. This causes wrist and hand pain known as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Carpal tunnel release surgery is a simple procedure. Most patients do not need anesthesia and can go home the same day. Dr. Lin will numb your hand and wrist with a local anesthetic. Then, he will make an incision into your wrist. He will cut the carpal ligament that puts pressure on the nerve. Once this ligament is cut, the nerve will no longer be under pressure.

Carpal tunnel release surgery should provide almost immediate relief. If you previously experienced pain while using fine motor skills, it will dissipate after surgery. You will wear a bandage with a splint for the first few weeks after surgery. During this time, Dr. Lin encourages you to periodically move your fingers to avoid excessive stiffness.

After the bandage and splint are removed, you will likely need physical therapy. A physical therapist will show you how to regain the range of motion in your wrist and fingers. Most patients experience a full recovery within two to three months after the procedure. Dr. Richard Lin is a top orthopedic surgeon known throughout Orange County and provides treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome in Tustin, Fountain Valley and Anaheim.

Open Reduction & Internal Fixation (ORIF)

Open reduction and internal fixation surgery is necessary when you have a severe bone fracture. Usually, this surgery is defined as an emergency procedure. When you have a bone fracture that splits your bone into pieces, this can harm the surrounding areas in your body.

If you break a bone and it protrudes from your skin, this type of fracture must be treated with ORIF. Severe breakage and fractures require setting the bones back into the correct position. This is also true for bones that have been jolted out of their normal position. This causes extreme pain and cannot be fixed externally.

Dr. Lin performs ORIF to re-attach the bone fragments so that they heal properly. He uses metal plates and screws to secure the bone in its original position. These materials will help the bone heal together without becoming misaligned.

External fixators provide stability to the healing bone after surgery. Depending on the type of fracture you have, you may need internal fixators and external fixators. All of the metals Dr. Lin uses are surgical-grade, so they do not harm your body.

The recovery from ORIF depends on the type of injury you experienced. It can range anywhere from three months to over a year. For more complex breaks and shattered bones, the surgery recovery will be longer. Dr. Lin will follow up with x-rays and testing to make sure your bones are healing in proper alignment. With locations in Tustin, Fountain Valley and Anaheim, Dr. Lin provides treatment for complex broken bones and serves southern California with locations in Tustin, Fountain Valley and Anaheim.

Diagnostic Surgical Arthroscopy

Dr. Lin performs diagnostic arthroscopy surgery on the knees and shoulders. The purpose of arthroscopy is for Dr. Lin to see the inside of your joints and how they function. This helps to identify the source of your pain. It also helps him pinpoint exactly where the problem areas are so he can address them in future surgery.

Diagnostic arthroscopy uses a small camera to visualize your joints. This surgery is not as invasive as others, since it does not require a large incision. Dr. Lin will make a small incision to insert the camera near your affected joint. This way, he can see all of the structures in your knee or shoulder. He can figure out the source of your symptoms and offer minor treatments such as debridement and reattachment of small tendons and ligaments.

Arthroscopy is typically a same-day surgery. This means that you can go home after your procedure is finished. Barring any complications, your recovery time will be minimal.