Imagine not being able to do everyday things like buttoning a shirt, grabbing a can off a shelf or even opening a door. That’s the reality for the millions of people who suffer from arthritis of the thumb. But now there’s a new, minimally invasive procedure called capsulorrphahy, which can relieve the pain and help folks resume a “normal” life. Stacey Berner, M.D., director of the Hand Center at Northwest Hospital Center, is the only orthopedic surgeon in the state to do this innovative procedure. Dr. Berner says capsulorrhaphy differs from other thumb arthritis surgeries in that it’s designed as an outpatient procedure performed with only two small incisions. The procedure, which takes under two hours, also cuts recovery time by as much as five weeks.

For more information about this procedure and others being done at Northwest Hospital Center call 410-601-WELL(9355).