The following article has some good news stored for surgeons treating carpal tunnel syndrome. MicroAire Surgical Instruments have now launched a novel device named the SlimLine for helping surgeons treat carpal tunnel syndrome. The device consists of a narrow cannula and blade that allows performing the surgery through a tiny incision in the patient’s wrist instead of a full open-hand surgery.
This type of minimally invasive surgery can be termed as Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release or ECTR. The device apparently retains the top-width of its original cannula, while the sides of the new cannula are angled downward and inward for decreasing the overall volume by 30 percent.
The angled sides may also assist in keeping the median nerve below and away from the blade, so that a surgeon elevates through the top of the cannula during the procedure. The tip of the cannula appears prow-shaped and helps to enhance dissection of tenosynovium tissue in the procedure.
“Patients are looking for minimally invasive options for treating carpal tunnel syndrome. They know that knee surgery is performed through tiny incisions, so why not carpal tunnel surgery? Well, with this new, smaller device from MicroAire, more than ever before, endoscopic treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome is a reality for patients in the United States and around the world,” mentioned Alan Connor, General Manager of Orthopaedic Specialties at MicroAire.
As surgeons performing ECTR observe the treatment on a video monitor, the SlimLine cannula can boost the surgeon’s field of view by up to 10 percent than the previous cannula developed by MicroAire. The newly introduced device is possibly compatible with MicroAire’s SmartRelease system and MicroAire’s previous-generation ECTR system, called CTRS. Apart from retaining the design feature of the original cannula, the SlimLine is integrated with a blade that rises straight up at a 90-degree angle.
The new SlimLine cannula by MicroAire was debuted during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in San Diego.