EAGAN, Minn. – June 9, 2026 – Sonex Health, Inc. (Sonex Health) and The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures today announced publication of six-month data demonstrating the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release (UGCTR) using UltraGuideCTR™. The study, published in the Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online, represents the largest prospective evaluation of UGCTR to date.
The MISSION registry (Post-Market RegIStry of the Patient Experience when uSing UltraGuIdeCTR fOr Carpal TuNnel Release) is a prospective, multicenter study that is collecting real-world outcomes of patients suffering from CTS who are treated with a UGCTR procedure using Sonex Health’s commercially available device, UltraGuideCTR, endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR), or open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) in routine clinical practice in the United States. The goal of the MISSION registry is to compare symptom relief, functional outcomes, pain, quality of life, and patient satisfaction among the different procedural approaches to treat carpal tunnel syndrome.
The UGCTR data at six months includes 887 patients and 1,082 hands treated with UltraGuideCTR across 22 sites in the U.S. In this largest-ever prospective study of carpal tunnel release performed in the U.S., authors found that patients treated with UGCTR experienced rapid improvement in symptoms and function, and high patient satisfaction through six months. The study also demonstrates the ability to simultaneously treat both hands of patients suffering from bilateral CTS as part of a single procedure in routine clinical practice.
“This paper is significant because the results demonstrate real-world, patient-reported experiences across the largest set of CTS patients in a single study, establishing a new benchmark for safety, efficacy and patient outcomes in carpal tunnel release procedures,” said Dr. Victor Marwin, an orthopedic hand surgeon with Bluegrass Orthopaedics in Lexington, Ky., and principal investigator for MISSION.
Key takeaways from the patients treated with UGCTR include:
- Symptoms, function and pain rapidly improved and remained significantly improved compared to baseline at six months.
- The median time to resume normal activities was three days and the time to return to work was four days.
- At six months, patient satisfaction among all treated hands was 89.9%.
- 82.1% of procedures were performed using only local anesthesia (i.e. wide awake local anesthesia no tourniquet – WALANT).
- Procedures were performed through a small wrist incision (mean 5 mm) that did not require sutures (90% suture-free closure).
- 22% of patients underwent simultaneous bilateral procedures, with clinical outcomes comparable to those reported for unilateral procedures.
- No intraoperative complications or serious adverse events were reported.
Authors noted: “The findings of this study have practical implications for patients, providers, and healthcare systems. For patients, the short recovery period and early return to work observed after UGCTR may lessen the financial impact of time away from employment, which is particularly relevant given that nearly two-thirds of the cohort were employed at the time of treatment. The improvements in quality of life, high satisfaction rates, and low risk of complications further indicate that the UGCTR procedure provided patient-centered benefits. From a healthcare system perspective, techniques that enable rapid functional recovery without compromising safety may reduce overall healthcare expenditures given the CTS-related healthcare costs of over $2 billion annually in the U.S.”
“These findings reinforce Sonex Health’s commitment to advancing ultrasound-guided solutions that improve safety, accelerate recovery and enhance the patient experience,” said Sonex Health President and CEO Bob Paulson. “This compelling real-world outcomes data also supports the use of UGCTR in routine clinical practice to simultaneously treat both hands of patients diagnosed with bilateral CTS, which is common in this patient population.”
This published data will further strengthen the UGCTR evidence base, adding to 18 peer-reviewed publications representing more than 1,400 patients and 2,000 hands. This includes studies comparing UGCTR to OCTR and UGCTR to ECTR. UGCTR data demonstrates clear patient advantages over the other two procedures, including higher use of local anesthesia (WALANT) only, smaller incisions, more suture-free closure, lower opioid use, less wound pain and sensitivity, and higher overall procedural and wound satisfaction. Collectively, these peer-reviewed publications will be used to inform and educate physicians, patients and payors about the benefits of UGCTR.
ABOUT SONEX HEALTH AND THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCES ULTRASOUND GUIDED PROCEDURES
Sonex Health, Inc. is empowering physicians with ultrasound-guided solutions that transform the patient experience. As the leader in ultrasound-guided surgery, Sonex Health is dedicated to pioneering innovative therapies and skill-enhancement solutions that improve patient safety, decrease invasiveness, and reduce the cost of care, supported by robust clinical research and world-class professional education and training. The company holds 62 issued or pending U.S. and international patents covering its current and future products and procedures.
The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures was founded in 2018 to support the Sonex Health mission and clinical excellence, and is focused on innovation supported by robust clinical research and world-class professional education and training that transforms the treatment experience for patients, providers and payors. The Institute has trained more than 900 physicians over the past four years.
For information about Sonex Health, UltraGuideCTR, and UltraGuideTFR, visit www.sonexhealth.com. For more information about the Institute, visit www.sonexhealth.com/educational-institute.
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Getting Patients Back in the Game with Great Outcomes
From high school sports teams to professional athletes — including serving as the team physician for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Dr. Chuck Peterson of Arizona Sports Medicine Center in Phoenix makes it his top priority to get patients back to the activities they love, fast.
Dr. Peterson has dedicated his entire career to interventional sports medicine, employing ultrasound technology from the very start of the practice he founded in 2003. As the first physician in the Phoenix area to offer ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release (UGCTR) in 2022, Dr. Peterson has performed more than 175 UGCTR procedures to date.
Patients sharing their positive and life-changing experiences with UGCTR with friends and family are the primary source of the ever-increasing number of referrals to Dr. Peterson. “They are ecstatic when they find out about the short recovery time, that they don’t have to have anesthesia, and that the incision is small. They are very motivated to move forward with UGCTR,” says Dr. Peterson.
Fast and Easy Recovery, Not Just for Athletes
Though athletes make up a majority of Dr. Peterson’s patients, they come from all walks of life, ages, and interests. Even fellow physicians have trusted Dr. Peterson to perform their UGCTR procedures. He recalls one physician he treated with UGCTR using UltraGuideCTR™ who took full advantage of the fast recovery time. “I did her UGCTR at the end of the day on a Thursday, and she was seeing patients at 8:00 AM the next day,” says Dr. Peterson.
Dr. Peterson’s UGCTR patients are amazed by the size of the scar compared to other surgical options. “They can’t believe the small incision site after the procedure compared to what they’ve seen with mini-open surgeries. Patients brag about their scars all the time and say, ‘Look, you can’t even see it,’ and that is very fulfilling for me,” says Dr. Peterson
Outcomes that Change Lives
Helping patients regain function is a source of personal pride for Dr. Peterson. So confident in UGCTR, he felt comfortable performing the procedure on his own father-in-law. “Doing this for him was so important to me because I could help somebody I really love,” says Dr. Peterson. “And I was able to get him back to his abilities in a way that was really helpful in his life.”
One patient who had suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome for 25 years stands out as a special point of pride for Dr. Peterson. He had been struggling to care for his daughter, who had been quadriplegic since high school. Extreme numbness caused him to severely injure his index finger without realizing it while working in his garage. “After the UGCTR, I would see him regularly, and we would talk about the impact it had on his life. He was so happy he could feel his hand again and be able to take care of his daughter.”
Congratulations, Dr. Peterson
For his dedication to superior outcomes that profoundly impact the lives of his patients, Dr. Peterson was recently named a Center of Excellence physician by the Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and Sonex Health.
“To be honored with this distinction is wonderful,” says Dr. Peterson. “It’s a way for patients to discern that I’m experienced with UGCTR, which can help more patients suffering with carpal tunnel syndrome get treated with this procedure.”
Learn more about The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and our training programs to begin your MSK ultrasound training today.
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Overcoming Patient Hesitation with Excellent Outcomes
For nearly 30 years, Dr. Nader Paksima, an orthopedic surgeon at New York University Langone Orthopedic Hospital in New York City, has strived to achieve great outcomes that quickly return his patients to their daily activities, passions, and work, free of pain and limitations.
In addition to training the next generation of physicians with the most innovative approaches, including ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release (UGCTR), Dr. Paksima treats patients of all ages and backgrounds. Since integrating UGCTR into his practice, Dr. Paksima has performed over 100 UGCTR procedures.
“I see a lot of patients who have bilateral carpal tunnel, and we used to wait six weeks between the two surgeries. Now, after a couple of weeks, my patients are asking to have the other side done. The recovery is just faster and easier,” Dr. Paksima says.
From Reluctance to Relief
Many of Dr. Paksima’s carpal tunnel syndrome patients have suffered with the condition for years out of a belief that treatment would mean being out of commission for a long period, with bulky bandages and a slow recovery. “In their mind, they think about this problem as a really insurmountable issue, and they just live with it rather than get it taken care of,” says Dr. Paksima.
“Once I explain to them that they’ll just be under local anesthesia, and they can use their hand that same day to eat, cook, and do things like that, they feel a lot more comfortable and go ahead and get the treatment,” says Dr. Paksima.
“It’s been really fun to see patients when they come back and they’re just ecstatic,” Dr. Paksima says with a laugh. “The first week, their pain level is very low, and they’re using their hands. I’ve really enjoyed being able to give this service to them, where they can get back to doing the things they love much sooner.”
Seeing Is Believing
Prior to adding UGCTR to his practice, Dr. Paksima was an infrequent user of ultrasound technology. He was first introduced to the concept of UGCTR by a fellow physician and friend in Florida who had attended Sonex Health’s MSK Ultrasound Mini-Fellowship for minimally invasive techniques using ultrasound guidance. The physician praised the innovative procedure for its superior outcomes and fast recovery.
“He was really excited about UGCTR,” says Dr. Paksima. “So, I flew down to Florida and spent a day with him in his surgery center watching him do these procedures. When I saw his patients who had surgery the week before and how well they were doing, it motivated me to attend the New York City Mini-Fellowship and begin integrating it into my practice,” he says.
Dr. Paksima recalls a patient he treated with UGCTR using UltraGuideCTR™ who wanted to go on a cruise with his wife in a matter of weeks. He was hesitant to have another operation because past surgeries involved prolonged recoveries. Dr. Paksima assured him that he would be okay and able to go on the cruise. “So I did it, and he came back the next week and just couldn’t believe it. He got to go on his cruise and do the things he wanted to do,” says Dr. Paksima.
Congratulations, Dr. Paksima
For his dedication to providing his patients with great outcomes that get them back to the activities and lives they love quickly, Dr. Paksima has recently been named a Center of Excellence by The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound-Guided Procedures and Sonex Health.
“It’s an honor to be recognized with this distinction,” says Dr. Paksima. “I’m thrilled to have learned this new skill that lets me do something really beneficial for my patients.”
Learn more about The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and our training programs to begin your MSK ultrasound training today.
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Improved Outcomes Drive Patient Growth
With a passion for innovation and getting his patients struggling with carpal tunnel syndrome back to their busy work and lives, Dr. Robert Kirtley of SGMC Health in Valdosta, GA has built a practice focused on ultrasound technology and ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release (UGCTR). That specialty has earned Dr. Kirtley a reputation for consistently providing patients with excellent outcomes that profoundly impact their lives.
Since starting his practice in 2019, Dr. Kirtley has treated over 1,200 patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with UGCTR. Patients consistently offer praise and rave reviews, highlighting his commitment to excellent care. “They’re thrilled that their hands won’t be cut open and left with a large scar,” he says. “They’re literally moving immediately afterward and getting back to work quickly.”
A True Believer
Dr. Kirtley remembers being impressed seeing UGCTR using UltraGuideCTR™ for the first time when it was introduced and knew it would be a game-changer. “Immediately, I understood how transformative the device really was and how it would revolutionize the patient experience,” Dr. Kirtley says. “Seeing just how well it worked left me in awe, and I fell in love with it.”
“Being able to see and transect the whole ligament makes it less likely there will be a return of symptoms,” Dr. Kirtley explains. “Providing a procedure that’s curative for the patient as well as streamlined, elegant, and simple for the physician is something we don’t have that often in medicine. That’s what’s revolutionary.”
Steady Growth By Word of Mouth
When Dr. Kirtley arrived in Valdosta, most carpal tunnel surgeries were being performed using the open approach. After a slow start, Dr. Kirtley’s excellent patient outcomes began to spread by word of mouth, driving more and more referrals. “I didn’t do a whole lot that first year, but the number rapidly increased after I moved to my own practice; then, each year it just cascaded,” he says. “Now I handle most of the business for carpal tunnel release, and that’s exciting.”
Dr. Kirtley’s patients are thrilled by the rapid relief and recovery they experience with UGCTR. He recalls one patient who had an unsuccessful open carpal tunnel release surgery that resulted in chronic pain in her hand. She visited Dr. Kirtley’s clinic and was surprised by how different the approach was. “She was happy that she could be diagnosed painlessly using ultrasound and didn’t have to be put to sleep during UGCTR,” he says. “She reported feeling pain relief immediately that night. The next day, it was just a world of difference for her.”
Congratulations Dr. Kirtley
For his innovative spirit and commitment to excellent patient outcomes, Dr. Kirtley was recently named a Center of Excellence physician by The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and Sonex Health.
“It means a lot to me to be recognized,” Dr. Kirtley says. “After years of building my practice, it is an honor to be named a center of excellence. I am committed to offering minimally invasive treatments that provide rapid return to function and doing the right thing for the patient.”
Learn more about The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and our training programs to begin your MSK ultrasound training today.
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EAGAN, Minn. – March 3, 2026 – Sonex Health, Inc. (Sonex Health) and The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures announced today the second of several important peer-reviewed papers reporting data from its Post-Market RegIStry of the Patient Experience when uSing UltraGuIdeCTR™ fOr Carpal TuNnel Release (MISSION) study was published in the Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online. The MISSION Registry is the largest ever multi-center carpal tunnel release (CTR) study in the United States. In this publication, the authors compared the 3-month outcomes of 372 matched patients, with 186 undergoing ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release (UGCTR) using UltraGuideCTR and 186 undergoing endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR). While authors concluded that both UGCTR using UltraGuideCTR and ECTR are safe and effective treatments, UGCTR resulted in important and significant patient advantages over ECTR. The data demonstrate that UGCTR was more commonly performed using only local anesthesia (WALANT) and was associated with smaller incisions, more suture-free closure, lower opioid use, less wound pain and sensitivity, and higher overall procedural and wound satisfaction.
“It’s the first real-world, head-to-head comparison of UGCTR versus ECTR, which is an important step in advancing minimally invasive treatment options for the millions of patients suffering from debilitating CTS in the U.S.,” said Dr. Victor Marwin, an orthopedic hand surgeon with Bluegrass Orthopaedics in Lexington, Ky., and principal investigator for MISSION. “The outcomes of this real-world study represent and confirm what we’re typically seeing with patient experience, results and satisfaction in practice.”
Key takeaways from the data and study highlights include:
- 85.5% of UGCTR procedures were performed using WALANT anesthesia compared to 30.1% for ECTR.
- UGCTR was associated with a shorter incision (5 mm) compared to ECTR (12 mm) and less frequently required suture closure (11% versus 100%).
- Fewer patients used opioids for pain control following UGCTR versus ECTR (10.3% versus 39.7%).
- At three months, overall satisfaction was higher with UGCTR compared to ECTR (92.1% vs. 83.6%).
- At three months, wound satisfaction favored UGCTR, and UGCTR patients reported significantly less wound-related symptoms.
- No serious adverse events (AEs) occurred in either group although non-serious AEs were more common in the ECTR group.
- The findings of this study align with prior research for UGCTR.
“As someone who currently offers endoscopic carpal tunnel release to my patients, I was interested in participating in this study to not only understand the outcomes, but also understand the possibilities of moving these procedures out of the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) and into the clinic,” said Dr. Jenna Godfrey, an orthopedic hand surgeon with Slocum Orthopedics in Eugene, Ore. “Given my extensive experience with endoscopic carpal tunnel release procedures, the comparative data to the ultrasound-guided approach in this study was very insightful. Seeing the ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release procedures performed using WALANT, a small incision, and quick healing are compelling reasons for me to offer this procedure in the clinic to my patients.”
The MISSION Registry enrolled more than 1,400 patients across three treatment arms, and this published data will complement the 17 peer-reviewed UGCTR publications reporting on more than 1,450 patients and 1,850 hands already in the literature. Collectively, these peer-reviewed publications will be used to inform and educate physicians, patients and payors about the benefits of UGCTR using UltraGuideCTR.
“The published research provides another excellent example of how this robust, real-world data demonstrate the safety, effectiveness and advantages of UGCTR compared to other CTS treatment options,” said Sonex Health President and CEO Bob Paulson. “These strong outcomes data from the MISSION Registry continue to support our commitment to ensure commercial insurers cover and pay for UGCTR procedures in any care setting, while continuing to expand patient access to this innovative and cost-effective CTS treatment option.”
ABOUT SONEX HEALTH AND THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCES ULTRASOUND GUIDED PROCEDURES
Sonex Health, Inc. is empowering physicians with ultrasound-guided solutions that transform the patient experience. As the leader in ultrasound-guided surgery, Sonex Health is dedicated to pioneering innovative therapies and skill enhancement solutions that improve patient safety, decrease invasiveness, and reduce the cost of care, supported by robust clinical research and world-class professional education and training. The company has 52 issued or pending U.S. and international patents covering its current and future products and procedures.
The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures was founded in 2018 to support the Sonex Health mission and clinical excellence and is focused on innovation supported by robust clinical research and world-class professional education and training that transforms the treatment experience for patients, providers and payors. The Institute has trained more than 900 physicians over the past four years.
For information about Sonex Health, UltraGuideCTR, and UltraGuideTFR visit www.sonexhealth.com. For more information about the Institute visit http://www.sonexhealth.com/educational-institute.
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Providing Relief Regardless of Age or Comorbidities
Dr. Bilal Islam of Emerald Coast Sports Medicine in Panama City, Florida, recently achieved a significant milestone for his combined rheumatology and sports medicine clinic: he has treated over 1,000 patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome with ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release (UGCTR).
With a practice that sees a majority of patients who have complex autoimmune conditions and comorbidities that preclude them from open carpal tunnel release (CTR) surgery, Dr. Islam knows the importance of minimally invasive procedures. It was the key factor in his decision to begin offering UGCTR back in 2020.
“Many of our patients have already seen neurologists and pain management doctors, but due to their advanced age, comorbidities, or complex autoimmune disease, they’ve run out of options,” says Dr. Islam. “Now they come to us, and we can perform UGCTR while they’re awake through the whole thing.” Most physicians perform UGCTR on patients using local anesthesia, allowing their patients to participate in their treatment.
A Focus on Quick Recovery
Getting patients back to their normal lives as quickly as possible — particularly those with autoimmune diseases — is a priority for Dr. Islam. “We treat them at our clinic, and within the week they’re able to get back to work and activity without having any kind of flare-ups or significant side effects from having the procedure.”
“One of my favorite parts of the UGCTR technique is explaining to patients what recovery will be like during our initial evaluation and seeing the relief on their faces when they realize how quick it is,” says Dr. Islam. “It’s the simple things we take for granted — like being able to sleep normally, go to work, or pick up coffee cups again — that means the most to our patients,” he adds.
Dr. Islam recalls a patient from Jamaica who, as a barber, relied heavily on his hands for his livelihood. After discovering the clinic’s website, the patient came in to be evaluated, was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, and booked for the procedure using the UGCTR approach the following day. “He flew home the day after the procedure and sent a thank-you message along with a photo of him back at work,” Dr. Islam says with pride.
Growing Demand Through Patient Word-of-Mouth
Word of Dr. Islam’s positive outcomes and quick recovery times with the UGCTR technique has spread, drawing in patients from across the city, throughout the state, and beyond. “Everyone now knows this as the carpal tunnel clinic,” he says. “My patients are so impressed with the minimal discomfort and short recovery time that they tell everyone in their families.”
Looking back on the five years since he began offering UGCTR, Dr. Islam reflects on the lives it has changed. “The one-thousand-patient mark is a milestone and a motivator. It means we’ve significantly improved one thousand lives, and I’m excited about how many patients we’re going to help moving forward.”
Learn more about The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and our training programs to begin your MSK ultrasound training today.
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EAGAN, Minn. – Jan. 22, 2026 – Sonex Health, Inc. (Sonex Health) and The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures announced today the first of several peer-reviewed papers reporting data from its Post-Market RegIStry of the Patient Experience when uSing UltraGuIdeCTR™ fOr Carpal TuNnel Release (MISSION) study was published in the Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online. In this largest ever multi-center carpal tunnel release (CTR) study in the United States, the authors concluded based on the three-month data that both ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release (UGCTR) using UltraGuideCTR and open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) are safe and effective treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In addition, UGCTR was more commonly performed using only local anesthesia (WALANT) and was associated with smaller incisions, more suture-free closure, less opioid use, faster wound symptom resolution, fewer wound symptoms, and higher wound satisfaction.
With more than 1,400 patients enrolled across three arms, this published data will complement the 16 peer-reviewed UGCTR publications reporting on more than 1,300 patients and 1,700 hands already in the literature. Collectively, these peer-reviewed publications will be used to inform and educate physicians, patients and payors about the benefits of UGCTR using UltraGuideCTR.
“It’s been an honor to serve as principal investigator for MISSION,” said Dr. Victor Marwin, an orthopedic hand surgeon with Bluegrass Orthopaedics in Lexington, Ky. “While this research has been a huge undertaking, I cannot stress enough the importance of collecting real-world comparative data when it comes to being able to make the most informed decisions possible about treatment options for carpal tunnel release.”
Key takeaways from the data and study highlights include:
- 84.8% of UGCTR procedures were performed using only local anesthesia compared to 19.1% for OCTR.
- UGCTR was associated with a shorter incision (5.2 mm) compared to OCTR at 16.5 mm and less frequently required suture closure (14.6% vs. 100%).
- Postprocedural opioid use was lower following UGCTR (10.2% vs. 49.1%; P < .001).
- Improvements in symptom severity and functional status statistically favored UGCTR.
- Wound satisfaction favored UGCTR.
- At three months, wound symptoms were less frequent in the UGCTR group (P < .001), with complete resolution of wound sensitivity and pain reported in 60.7% and 22.8% of patients in the UGCTR and OCTR groups, respectively.
“This strong clinical data is consistent with our prior peer-reviewed, published research and continues to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of UGCTR procedures,” said Sonex Health President and CEO Bob Paulson. “This compelling data also supports our reimbursement strategies to ensure broad patient access to this innovative carpal tunnel release treatment option in all settings of care, including office-based procedures.”
ABOUT SONEX HEALTH AND THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCES ULTRASOUND GUIDED PROCEDURES
Sonex Health, Inc. is empowering physicians with ultrasound-guided solutions that transform the patient experience. As the leader in ultrasound-guided surgery, Sonex Health is dedicated to pioneering innovative therapies and skill enhancement solutions that improve patient safety, decrease invasiveness, and reduce the cost of care, supported by robust clinical research and world-class professional education and training. The company has 52 issued or pending U.S. and international patents covering its current and future products and procedures.
The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures was founded in 2018 to support the Sonex Health mission and clinical excellence and is focused on innovation supported by robust clinical research and world-class professional education and training that transforms the treatment experience for patients, providers and payers. The Institute has trained more than 900 physicians over the past four years.
For information about Sonex Health, UltraGuideCTR, and UltraGuideTFR visit www.sonexhealth.com. For more information about the Institute visit http://www.sonexhealth.com/educational-institute.
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Speeding Patient Recovery and Changing Lives
Quickly returning patients to their lives by providing the most advanced treatments has been the mission driving Dr. Micev’s work at the Hand Center of Nevada in Las Vegas. That goal led him to explore more minimally invasive treatment options for carpal tunnel release (CTR) and trigger finger release (TFR). He started offering CTR with real-time ultrasound guidance (UGCTR) two years ago, and soon after, added TFR with real-time ultrasound guidance (UGTFR) to his practice as well.
The transition from traditional open surgery to minimally invasive ultrasound-guided techniques was monumental for Dr. Micev and life-changing for his patients. “It was a dramatic shift, taking a procedure known for being done in an operating room to performing it in an office setting with very fast recovery,” Dr. Micev says. “I’ve had patients back at work, bowling, or playing tennis within days of a procedure performed using UltraGuideCTR™ or UltraGuideTFR™.”
Compelled by Ultrasound Technology
Dr. Micev recalls first hearing about UGCTR two years ago and being skeptical yet fascinated that it could be performed without stitches, leaving only a small incision. He and his team traveled to The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures in Minneapolis to attend Sonex Health’s MSK Ultrasound Mini-Fellowship for minimally invasive techniques using ultrasound guidance. Dr. Micev says he realized during the course that this technique was the future of CTR and TFR procedures. “It was an eye-opening moment for me,” he says. “I could see how it could be performed in an office setting under local anesthesia rather than requiring a trip to the operating room in a hospital or surgery center.”
Shortly after that first mini-fellowship, Dr. Micev attended another program for UGTFR and added UltraGuideTFR to his practice. The technique revolutionized his approach to TFR treatment to an even greater degree, enabling patients to better tolerate and recover from bilateral and multiple finger releases in just one office visit.to his practice. The technique revolutionized his approach to TFR treatment to an even greater degree, enabling patients to better tolerate and recover from bilateral and multiple finger releases in just one office visit.
With well over 200 ultrasound-guided procedures performed since 2023, Dr. Micev says his practice now uses the technology multiple times every day, so much so that it required an office reconfiguration. “We decided to redesign our entire office and build a dedicated ultrasound-guided procedure suite to accommodate the growing use and demand for this advanced approach,” he says. “It’s a monumental paradigm shift in terms of healthcare and treating patients.” The techniques’ potential to eliminate the need for preoperative testing, and transition procedures from hospitals or surgery centers into the office setting has made a huge impact on patient care for Dr. Micev.
Getting Patients Back to Their Lives Quickly
Dr. Micev reports that patients recovering from procedures employing real-time ultrasound guidance techniques are far ahead of those undergoing traditional open surgery. “When there aren’t sutures and the incision is the size of a paper cut, patients are able to return to their normal lives and resume daily activities much faster,” he says.
One TFR patient in particular, who worked as a hotel bellman, stands out for Dr. Micev. The patient used his hands every day lifting heavy luggage and couldn’t afford to take time off for surgery, nor did he want stitches limiting his ability to do his job. “After non-operative treatments failed, the patient specifically requested UGTFR. We performed this technique on two fingers on a Friday, and he was back at work the following Monday,” Dr. Micev says. “It is truly a demonstration of how minimally invasive this technology is.”
Congratulations, Dr. Micev
For his steadfast commitment to providing exceptional patient outcomes, Dr. Micev has recently been named a Center of Excellence by The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and Sonex Health.
“We are so proud of this accomplishment and to be the only Center of Excellence in Southern Nevada. It really is a testament to our people and the hard work we are doing to provide this service to our patients at the Hand Center of Nevada every day.”
Learn more about The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and our training programs to begin your MSK ultrasound training today.
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EAGAN, Minn. – Oct. 15, 2025 – Sonex Health, Inc. (Sonex Health) and The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures announced today they have achieved the enrollment target in the landmark Post-Market RegIStry of the Patient Experience when uSing UltraGuIdeCTR fOr Carpal TuNnel Release (MISSION) study. This multi-arm registry has enrolled over 1,300 patients across 33 sites in 18 months.
The MISSION registry is a prospective, multicenter study that collected real-world outcomes of patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) who are treated with an ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release (UGCTR) procedure using Sonex Health’s commercially available device, UltraGuideCTR™, endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR), or open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) in routine clinical practice in the United States. MISSION is the largest multi-center clinical study of its kind in the United States. The goal of the MISSION registry is to compare symptom relief, functional outcomes, pain, quality of life, and patient satisfaction among the different procedural approaches to treat carpal tunnel syndrome.
“Sonex Health was founded with the mission to empower physicians with ultrasound-guided solutions that transform the patient experience by pioneering innovative therapies and skill enhancement solutions that improve patient safety and speed of recovery, which means patients can get back to activities and work much faster, decrease invasiveness, and reduce the cost of care,” said Sonex Health President and CEO Bob Paulson. “This first-of-its-kind real-world comparative registry for carpal tunnel release procedures is an example of our commitment to continuously generate meaningful clinical data, which is at the heart of who we are as a company, as well as positively impacting the evolution of ultrasound-guided hand surgery procedures.”
More about the MISSION clinical registry:
- The three comparator arms:
– Ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel release
– Endoscopic carpal tunnel release
– Open carpal tunnel release
- Enrolled patients who qualified for treatment completed online follow-up questionnaires at 1-7 days, 2 weeks, and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after the procedure.
- Data from the MISSION registry will be shared in a series of peer-reviewed manuscripts anticipated to publish in early 2026 and will supplement the 16 peer-reviewed UGCTR publications on more than 1,300 patients and 1,700 hands already in the literature, which collectively will educate healthcare providers, their patients, and payers about the effects and outcomes of various CTR approaches.
“I am honored to serve as the principal investigator of the MISSION study,” said Dr. Victor Marwin, an orthopedic hand surgeon with Bluegrass Orthopaedics in Lexington, Ky. “It is extremely important to have high-quality clinical research that assesses patient-reported outcomes among the various carpal tunnel release techniques. Studies of this magnitude ensure that physicians and their patients have access to the clinical data that will allow them to select the treatment option best suited for each individual patient.”
For more information about the MISSION clinical registry, visit www.ctrstudy.com.
ABOUT SONEX HEALTH AND THE INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND GUIDED PROCEDURES
Sonex Health, Inc. is empowering physicians with ultrasound-guided solutions that transform the patient experience. As the leader in ultrasound-guided surgery, Sonex Health is dedicated to pioneering innovative therapies and skill enhancement solutions that improve patient safety, decrease invasiveness, and reduce the cost of care, supported by robust clinical research and world-class professional education and training. The company holds 51 patents with eight pipeline products and two commercial products. It has also published 16 clinical studies, with an additional eight studies planned through 2027.
The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures was founded in 2018 to support the Sonex Health mission and clinical excellence and is focused on innovation supported by robust clinical research and world-class professional education and training that transforms the treatment experience for patients, providers and payers. The Institute has trained more than 800 physicians over the past four years.
For information about Sonex Health, UltraGuideCTR, and UltraGuideTFR visit www.sonexhealth.com. For more information about the Institute visit http://www.sonexhealth.com/educational-institute
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Creating a Practice Patients Trust
To Dr. Jacob Jabbour, patient safety and positive patient experience are his top priorities. That’s why in 2022 the Connecticut-based hand surgeon became the first clinician in the area to offer trigger finger release (TFR) with ultrasound guidance using Sonex Health’s UltraGuideTFR™ technology. It went so well that the following year, he added a complementary technology – UltraGuideCTR™ for his patients who need carpal tunnel release (CTR) procedures.
“We have had such a low complication rate with these procedures,” says Dr. Jabbour. “And they’re as effective or more effective than the traditional surgical approaches because patients have an absolutely quicker recovery, less pain, and they’re really thrilled with their outcomes.”
No Operating Rooms
Dr. Jabbour notes that the biggest change for him with these technologies is that he can perform the procedures in his office rather than in an operating room. “This has removed the scheduling issues and limitations of offsite operating rooms and has allowed me to bring the procedures into an office space with familiar faces I work with every day.”
And since these CTR and TFR procedures are done using only local anesthesia, patients typically can drive themselves to and from his office. They also can stay in their street clothes, and don’t have to fast from food or medicines on the day of the procedure.
Diagnosis Made Easier
In the past, Dr. Jabbour diagnosed patients using an electromyography (EMG) test and had to use simulated models to show them what was happening with their hands and wrists. With ultrasound guidance, he can now, in real time, show his patients where the nerve is being compressed as well as explain how the procedure works and what to expect. “When patients have more comfort with the diagnosis, they have more comfort in proceeding with the treatment we’re offering.”
For trigger finger patients, Dr. Jabbour offers only ultrasound-guided procedures using UltraGuideTFR technology rather than the traditional surgical release. And, if needed, he often treats several fingers at once, giving his patients a “one and done” experience. “The great thing about TFR is that you can confirm right away that it’s cured,” he says.
For those with carpal tunnel syndrome, he typically offers the less-invasive ultrasound-guided procedure to those patients who are looking for a treatment option that allows them to get back to their lives quickly. Following carpal tunnel release with real-time ultrasound guidance (CTR-US), Dr. Jabbour reports his patients doing well and being satisfied with their scar and healing journey.
Making a Difference
Thinking about the hundreds of patients he has helped, several stand out. Dr. Jabbour says “I’m really happy to be able to help a mom sleep better, use her hands, and drive the kids to school without issues. I also had an 85-year-old patient recently who really just wanted to knit but didn’t want to go to an operating room or be put under general anesthesia. Now, she can use her hands without pain,” says Dr. Jabbour, adding, “I’m also proud we could help a patient who was getting terrible pain in his left arm during kidney dialysis that made his carpal tunnel symptoms worse. We were able to perform a CTR using UltraGuideCTR, and now he can go to his dialysis appointments without this discomfort.”
Center of Excellence
This dedication to better patient outcomes is why Dr. Jabbour was recently named a Center of Excellence (COE) physician by The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and Sonex Health. He says the recognition is both humbling and much appreciated. “It’s a confirmation that we can offer these procedures safely and effectively and have made ours a practice that patients and referring physicians can trust.”
Learn more about The Institute of Advanced Ultrasound Guided Procedures and our training programs to begin your MSK ultrasound training today.