Midwest
Orthopaedic Center
6000 N. Allen Rd.
Peoria, IL 61614
mail@doctormahoney.com
office (309) 691-1400
home > FAQ > needle aponeurotomy
FAQ - Needle Aponeurotomy
Needle Aponeurotomy
- What is needle aponeurotomy?
- What are the risks?
- Is needle aponeurotomy covered by insurance?
- What are the codes to tell my insurance company?
- What is the recovery like?
- Will I miss work?
- When can I go back to sports?
- Do I need to follow up with Dr. Mahoney in the office?
- How long does it take?
- Do I need to come back on a different day to have the needle aponeurotomy performed?
- Can two hands be treated on the same day?
- How much experience does Dr. Mahoney have?
- Where was Dr. Mahoney trained?
Q: What is needle
aponeurotomy?
A: Needle aponeurotomy is a minimally invasive procedure used to
treat Dupuytren's contracture. It is performed in the doctor's
office using local anesthesia. The tip of a hypodermic needle is
used as a very small knife to divide the contracting cords of
Dupuytren's disease. Except for the pain from the initial injections
of local anesthetic, there is generally no pain during the
procedure.
Q: What are the risks
associated with needle aponeurotomy?
A: The greatest "risk" really is not a risk, but a reality of the
disease: the contracture will probably come back at some point. The
average rate of recurrence is about 40-50% within 3-5 years. The
rate of recurrence is probably slightly higher compared to open
surgery. Possible complications include a small tear or break in the
skin (about 4-5%), nerve laceration (less than 1%), tendon
laceration (less than 1%).
Q: Is needle
aponeurotomy covered by my insurance?
A: Needle aponeurotomy is generally paid by insurance companies. It
is not considered experimental or alternative medicine. Dr. Mahoney
accepts many, but not all insurance plans. Dr. Mahoney does accept
Medicare. You should contact your insurance company to see if he is
on your preferred provider list.
Q: What are the codes
to tell my insurance company?
A: The ICD-9 code for Dupuytren's contracture is 728.6. The
CPT code for the office visit is 99203. The CPT code for needle
aponeurotomy is 26040.
Q: What is the recovery
like?
A: The recovery is usually very rapid with minimal pain. There will
be "soreness" over the palm and finger. Patients rarely need any
therapy or splinting after treatment. A simple band-aid is applied
to the skin.
Q: Will I miss work?
A: Patients with sedentary jobs are usually able to return to work
the next day. Patients with manual-labor type of jobs may need to
take up to a week off from work.
Q: When can I go back
to sports?
A: Dr. Mahoney usually asks patients to refrain from sports that use
the hands (golf, tennis, baseball, etc.) for one week.
Q: Do I need to follow
up with Dr. Mahoney in the office?
A: If you live near Peoria, Dr. Mahoney would prefer to see you at
least once after the procedure to make sure that you are recovering
appropriately. However, if you are coming from a distance, the
follow up can be done by telephone and e-mail. Of course, if there
were to be a problem, Dr. Mahoney would want to see you in person.
Q: How long does it
take?
A: The appointment is scheduled for one hour. The first part of the
appointment is set aside for the examination and discussion of
treatment options. Assuming that you and Dr. Mahoney decide that you
should have the procedure, it is performed at that time. The total
length of the examination and the procedure is usually less than one
hour.
Q: Do I need to come
back to have needle aponeurotomy performed on a different day than
my evaluation appointment?
A: The evaluation appointment and procedure are performed on the
same day.
Q: Can two hands be
treated on the same day?
A: Except for very rare events (which would have to be
pre-arranged), only one hand can be treated on a single day. The
second hand could be treated the next day (or any time thereafter).
Q: How much experience
does Dr. Mahoney have?
A: As of October 2007, Dr. Mahoney has been performing the procedure
for a little more than two years. He is currently treating four to
eight patients per week with the procedure.
Q: Where was Dr.
Mahoney trained?
A: Dr. Mahoney received training in needle aponeurotomy at UCLA in
Los Angeles, CA while he was completing his one-year fellowship in
hand and microvascular surgery. He was trained by Dr. Prosper
Benhaim, who was trained by Dr. Keith Denkler. Dr. Mahoney will be
visiting Dr. Charles Eaton in early November 2007 to receive
additional training.
