Northwest Hospital Surgeon Performs First Da Vinci Robot Hand Surgery

Stacey Berner, M.D., medical director of the Hand Center at Northwest Hospital, has become the first surgeon in America to perform a revolutionary new robotic hand surgery.

Berner used the da Vinci Surgical System to perform an ultra precise surgery. Instead of traditional open surgery or conventional laparoscopy surgery, the da Vinci allows the surgeon to use high magnification and movements that eliminate human hand tremors.

“The new approach of using the da Vinci Surgical System significantly increases access to hard-to-reach structures and potentially offers better results for patients," Dr. Berner says.

Berner operated with two robotic arms, one with each hand and a third using a foot pedal. The da Vinci also allows the surgeon to view the entire operation with 3-D imaging.

By using this method, the surgeon can improve patient outcomes. Patients may experience less blood loss, less pain and shorter recovery times. While the a Vinci Surgical System has been used for other procedures such as gynecologic and prostate conditions, this is the first time it's been used for hand surgery.

To learn more about options for hand surgery, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

Hope for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Stacey Berner, M.D., medical director of the Hand Center at Northwest Hospital, has become the first surgeon in Maryland to perform a revolutionary new hand surgery to help alleviate cubital tunnel syndrome.

"Typically, the new procedure allows for the decompression of the ulnar nerve of the elbow with an incision as small as one-inch," Berner says. "The new approach of using an endoscope significantly decreases the amount of time and scarring associated with a decompression."

Cubital tunnel syndrome is caused by the compression of the ulnar nerve in the elbow. The ulnar nerve is one of the main nerves of the forearm and hand. Symptoms include numbness and tinging in the fingers, along with weakness of grip. Office workers and others who operate machinery with a bent elbow are often effected.

One blog from a patient who underwent surgery for cubital tunnel sydrome is here.

The traditional treatment of this condition often required surgery that would leave extensive scarring. However, Berner's latest approach can require only a one-inch incision and take as little as 15 minutes in the operating room. This is possible because this new technique utilizes an endoscope or operating telescope to assist the surgeon.

To learn more about the Hand Center at Northwest, call 410-601-WELL (9355).