As an outpatient surgery center, Specialty Surgical Center is equipped to safely provide a wide variety of medical procedures. Carpal tunnel surgery is a common procedure that is used to release pressure on the median nerve, which in turn relieves pain in the wrist and hand.

The carpal tunnel houses the median nerve in the wrist, and if inflamed, can narrow and cause pressure on the nerve, which then causes numbness, tingling, and pain. If left untreated, pain gets more severe and the patient may lose strength in their grip. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by repetitive use of the hands, and those who are obese, pregnant, or have hypothyroidism, diabetes or arthritis may be at a higher risk to develop carpal tunnel.

At Specialty Surgical Center, carpal tunnel release surgery is done in a safe outpatient setting, and patients are able to return home the same day. The hand surgeon will make an incision where the hand and wrist are joined, and the surgeon will cut the transverse carpal ligament, which will relieve the pressure on the median nerve. The incision will then be closed with stiches, and the patient will spend time in the recovery area and then be allowed to go home. Patients may be prescribed physical therapy or specific exercises to help regain strength and mobility of the wrist.

Those who have carpal tunnel surgery may experience pain relief shortly after the surgery, or it may take a few months before pain goes away.

For more information on carpal tunnel release surgery at Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, contact us at 973-940-3166 or complete our information request form.

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

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As we age, our bones weaken and become more susceptible to fracture. Some will experience widespread weakening of their bones, which is due to arthritis, osteoporosis and other conditions. These conditions can result in higher risk for broken bones, and breaks can happen under common circumstances, like stumbling. Even if a fall doesn’t occur, the jarring motion can cause a break in weak bones.

For women over the age of 50 with osteoporosis, spinal compression fractures can be common. These fractures can occur during daily activities, like bending down, sneezing, or lifting groceries out of the car. Some will notice a sudden, severe pain in their back, while others will notice a gradual onset of symptoms that get worse over time. Other symptoms may include pain that improves when lying down, pain when bending, or pain that gets worse when standing. In severe cases, spinal compression fractures can cause a loss of height or a curved deformity of the spine that results in a “hunchback.”

If not treated, spinal compression fractures can cause further complications including affecting the ability to breathe, problems with the stomach, and pain in the hips.

At Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, a minimally invasive treatment for spinal compression fractures is vertebroplasty, an outpatient procedure that will stabilize the fracture and restore the height of the vertebra.

In this procedure, the surgeon will guide a needle into the fractured vertebra through a small puncture in the skin. A medical grade acrylic cement will be injected into the fracture, stabilizing it and creating an internal cast within the structure of the vertebra. If fractures are present at multiple vertebral levels, the surgeon will repeat the procedure at the indicated vertebra. The cement hardens within minutes and after a short time in the recovery area, the patient will be allowed to return home.

Many patients will notice pain relief very quickly following the procedure, and will see an increase in their mobility and function.

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

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Most people who have a surgical procedure do not end up experiencing a surgical site infection. But, for those who do, it is extremely important to get the infection under control so it does not cause further medical issues.

One of the first steps to prevention of surgical site infection begins in the operating room. All medical staff who will be in the operating room should clean their hands and arms prior to surgery, and measures will be taken during the surgery to prevent infection, such as giving antibiotics before and after the surgery, and cleaning the skin at the site of the surgery. After the surgery, while you are in recovery, all medical personnel should again have clean hands before examining patients, using either soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Before surgery, it is important that patients do not shave with a razor in the areas near the intended surgical site, as it can irritate the skin and make the area more susceptible to infection. Additionally, patients who smoke should stop before the surgery, not only for general health reasons, but because patients who smoke are at a higher risk for developing postoperative infections.

After the surgery, it is important to have clean hands before touching the surgical dressing or surgical wound, and to follow your physician’s discharge instructions on how to care for the surgical wound. Instructions will be given on how soon patients are able to bathe, and proper procedure for cleaning the surgical wound and changing dressings.

If there are any symptoms of infection including redness, pain, swelling, drainage, fever, or heat at the surgical site, patients should call their doctor immediately.

At Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, every precaution is taken to ensure patient safety, including ongoing training and program implementation across the facility. For more information on Specialty Surgical Center’s patient safety programs, call 973-940-3166

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

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While most surgeries have no complications afterward, there are a few common complications that can happen even with minimally invasive, outpatient surgeries.

Likely the most common postoperative complication is pain. Minimally invasive surgeries generally result in less pain than those that require larger incisions, but patients may still experience pain after the procedure. Be sure to follow all postoperative instructions on what medications you may take following your procedure to help with pain.

Orthopedic procedures carry a higher risk of the development of clots, but clots can occur in any patient following any procedure. Those who smoke, are obese, or who are immobile are at the highest risk for clots. Postoperative clots usually form in the legs, but can move to the lungs where they can potentially become fatal. Swelling in the leg and calf pain are early indicators of a blood clot in the leg, and shortness of breath and chest pain are warning signs that the clot may have traveled to the lungs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 27 million surgeries are performed each year and of those, approximately 1% will experience a postoperative infection. Of these 1%, most infections are minor and only affect the skin, but serious infections can occur and cause 8,000 deaths per year. Symptoms of a postoperative infection include redness, heat, pain, fever, and drainage from the surgical site. If any of these symptoms occur, patients should call their doctor immediately to identify if their symptoms are truly an infection.

At Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey the medical team is focused on providing a safe environment for patients. Through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and The Joint Commission, Specialty Surgical Center continues to implement programs that place patient safety as a top priority, with the end goal as reducing the incidences of postoperative complications. For more information about postoperative complications, patient safety programs, or Specialty Surgical Center, please call 973-940-3166 or visit our contact page

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

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Active release technique (ART) is a therapy that is commonly used to treat conditions that are a result of overuse. Conditions including tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, and shin splints may benefit from active release technique.

Active release technique focuses on muscles and soft tissues to help relieve pain, increase or restore range of motion, and allow the patient the ability to regain strength in that area. According to ActiveRelease.com, overused muscles and soft tissues produce scar tissue after trauma to the area, which then makes it difficult for the tissues to move as freely as they once did. This built up scar tissue can also cause recurring pain, tendonitis, and can trap nerves, which could cause tingling, numbness, and loss of feeling in the affected limb.

Active release technique breaks up this scar tissue through use of hands-on therapy in which the therapist will use very specific movements to correct problems and pain that patients are experiencing. What is unique about active release technique is that it is a patented, specific technique with over 500 specific move unique to ART. The moves used on patients are not arbitrary – they are applied based on the specific issues each patient is experiencing.

The use of active release technique is offered as part of the chiropractic program at Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey. Patients who are experiencing pain or muscle tension due to overuse conditions may benefit from active release technique and other chiropractic and surgical services. For more information on how active release technique may help you, call 973-940-3166

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

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Chronic pain is a symptom that may occur with a wide variety of conditions: arthritis, migraine, CRPS, fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis, plantar fasciitis, degenerative disc disease – there are many, many conditions and diseases that are accompanied by chronic pain.

It is estimated that over 100 million adults in the United States suffer from chronic pain, and that number continues to grow. For those who suffer from chronic pain, treatment options include alternative therapies like chiropractic care; prescription and over-the-counter medications; and interventional pain management procedures, including injections.

These injections are minimally invasive and may be used both diagnostically and therapeutically. They usually consist of a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid – the local anesthetic provides quick, temporary pain relief, while the corticosteroid works to provide long-term results. If being used diagnostically, steroid injections are administered where the pain management doctor believes the patient’s pain to be originating from. If the patient receives relief from the injection, the pain management doctor may recommend a more permanent procedure to continue the relief of symptoms.

If used therapeutically, these injections are administered at the site of pain, and the patient should begin to feel pain relief within a few days, if not immediately. Injections may be given as a series to further improve pain symptoms and increase mobility and function.

These injections are usually used for chronic pain conditions that are nerve related. Degenerative disc disease is one example of this type of condition, as the disc of the spine begins to push outward, putting pressure on the nerves of the spinal cord. This pressure can cause pain to be referred into other areas of the body, including the buttocks and legs. Once the steroid injection is given, the irritated and inflamed nerve is calmed by the local anesthetic and steroid, and provides relief from pain.

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

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Oncology is the medical specialty that is focused on treating cancer, and within it, there are three subspecialties – medical oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation oncology.

At Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, specialists on staff treat cancer through radiation oncology. This treatment involves the carefully targeted use of radiation to kill cancer cells, both immediately and long term as the chromosome and DNA involved with the tumor are damaged and no longer able to grow.

Treatments will be designed to narrow in on the exact area that needs radiation, and a radiation oncologist will have the training required to be extremely intentional and precise. Specifically at Specialty Surgical Center, Dr. Bob Cole is an expert in a technique called Prostate Seed Implants, one of the most innovative treatments for prostate cancer. Patients with early, localized, and small tumors are the best candidates for Prostate Seed Implantation.

This therapy involves implantation of a small piece of radioactive iodine or palladium that is as small as a seed or grain of rice. Placed into the prostate gland, they temporarily deliver radiation to the prostate over several weeks, and then become inactive. They remain in the prostate and are harmless.

Specialty Surgical Center is proud to partner with Dr. Cole to bring this innovative treatment to prostate cancer patients. For more information, call Dr. Cole at 1-800-232-1104 or Specialty Surgical Center at 973-940-3166

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

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The Achilles tendon is located at the back of the heel and connects the muscles at the back of the leg to the bone of the heel. Achilles tendinitis is an overuse injury that is extremely common in runners who suddenly increase their mileage or speed without taking the time to condition themselves into it. Achilles tendinitis can also cause pain for “weekend warrior” types, who play intense sports only occasionally.

Most mild cases of Achilles tendinitis will go away over time with rest and conservative care like ice, heat, and over the counter pain medications. However, serious cases of Achilles tendinitis may cause a tear or rupture of the tendon, which will generally require surgery to repair. At Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey, the orthopedic team performs procedures to surgically repair tendons that are too damaged for conservative care.

Symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include persistent pain in the back of the leg in the calf or heel area that does not improve with time. Pain generally becomes more severe after longer runs, sprints, or stair climbing exercise. Pain may also be worse upon waking and improve as you go about your day. A torn or ruptured Achilles tendon will cause severe pain in the back of the leg, and it may become difficult to walk or stand upright.

Surgery to repair the Achilles tendon is usually done on an outpatient basis, and patients are advised to use crutches, a wheelchair, or a knee scooter to get around as the surgical site heals. Patients are usually allowed to bear their full weight at six weeks, and can usually return to athletic activity within 6 months.

For more information about Achilles tendon injuries or Achilles tendon repair at Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

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No matter the procedure, most people will generally feel nervous and apprehensive at the thought of surgery. As more than two-thirds of all operations are now performed in an outpatient surgery center, many have questions about having their surgery at one of these facilities instead of a traditional hospital.

Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey is an outpatient surgery center, and aims to educate patients about their options when it comes to surgical procedures. If your question is not answered here, please reach out to us and we are happy to help you.

What is an outpatient surgery?
An outpatient surgery is one where the patient is allowed to return home the same day and does not require an overnight hospital stay. There are many procedures that are now being performed on an outpatient basis to not only reduce the cost of care for patients, but also to allow them to recover in their home where they will be more comfortable.

Is outpatient surgery as safe as surgery in a hospital?

It is just as safe, if not more! There have been several studies that show the safety of outpatient surgery centers to be equal to or exceed traditional hospitals. There are risks to any procedure, and those patients who are considered high risk may require their surgery to be performed in a traditional hospital, but generally, outpatient surgery centers are very safe.

What are the benefits of surgery in an outpatient facility?

One of the biggest benefits is the reduction in cost for the patient. Instead of paying for an overnight stay in a hospital, the patient spends some time in recovery and then goes home to continue to recover. Another benefit is that many patients end up taking less pain medication following an outpatient procedure than they do if they have a hospital stay. Studies have also shown lower post-surgical infection rates for those who had procedures at outpatient facilities.

Many patients report that waiting times are shorter, procedures are less expensive, and the care is more personalized.

If you have questions about outpatient surgery, please call Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey at 973-940-3166

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

©Specialty Surgical Center, 2015
©Medical Marketing Solutions, 2015

As technology advances, more surgeries are moving toward a minimally invasive approach. While not necessarily suitable for all patients and all types of surgery, a minimally invasive surgery usually has the benefits of a shorter recovery time, less pain, and reduced blood loss.

Hip replacement surgeries are one of the most common orthopedic surgeries. Traditional hip replacement surgery requires a large incision and detachment of the muscles from the hip. This allows the surgical team to view and access the hip through the large incision. The damaged ball part of the hip is removed and replaced with a metal piece, which is then fit into a metal socket that is lined with plastic, metal, or ceramic to create a smooth surface. This replicates and replaces the way the ball and socket formation of the hip naturally moves.

In the minimally invasive approach to hip replacement, a much smaller incision is made – generally between 3 to 6 inches, whereas in traditional hip replacement surgery, an incision of 10 to 12 inches is made. One or two small incisions are made for minimally invasive hip replacement surgery. The muscles and tendons are detached from the hip in the minimally invasive approach as well, but to a degree. The implants used are the same as in traditional hip replacement surgery, but specific instruments are used to work through the smaller incision.

Those who are ideal candidates for minimally invasive hip replacement surgery are generally younger, healthier, and motivated to be extremely involved in the rehabilitation process to get back to their normal routine. Patients who are older, overweight, or have already undergone a hip replacement surgery are usually not good candidates for the minimally invasive approach.

Your orthopedic surgeon will discuss which type of hip replacement surgery will be most beneficial for your particular case and will discuss all the risks and benefits involved with that approach. If you have more questions about minimally invasive hip replacement surgery, contact Specialty Surgical Center in Sparta, New Jersey at 973-940-3166 or speak to your orthopedic surgeon.

Specialty Surgical Center is located in Sparta, New Jersey and our staff consists of board certified surgeons and anesthesiologists performing procedures in Orthopedics, Sports Medicine, Spinal Care, Podiatry, Urology, Pain Management, ENT, Hand Surgery, Lithotripsy, Brachytherapy, GYN and Laser Surgery.

For more information about Specialty Surgical Center, call 973-940-3166 or visit our Contact Page.

©Specialty Surgical Center, 2015
©Medical Marketing Solutions, 2015