SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has welcomed news that Wrexham Maelor Hospital is at the forefront of a new surgical innovation.
Mr Rowlands was commenting after Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board announced that the hospital has become the first in Wales to offer a new procedure for treating the hand condition carpal tunnel syndrome.
He said: “I am always pleased to hear about new technology being introduced in the health service and delighted that this ground breaking innovation is being offered at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
“It is certainly good news for patients suffering with this condition as they will no longer need to be treated in a traditional operating theatre but in a minor procedure room which lowers costs and speeds up recovery.”
Patients are now benefiting from a ground-breaking surgical innovation that is transforming the way carpal tunnel syndrome is treated—offering faster recovery, lower costs, and no visible scars.
Consultant Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon Mr Preetham Kodumuri has introduced Ultrasound-Guided Carpal Tunnel Release (UGCTR) atWrexham Maelor Hospital, the first service of its kind in NHS Wales.
The technique, performed under local anaesthetic in a minor procedure room, eliminates the need for a traditional operating theatre and significantly reduces the burden on surgical teams.
Mr Kodumuri said: “By moving this high-volume procedure out of theatres and into streamlined outpatient settings, we’re not only improving patient recovery – we’re also freeing up vital theatre space for more complex surgeries.
“We are also seeing a number of benefits through carrying out the service this way such as the cost per case dropping from £2,100 to £760 as well as improving the patient experience – there is no incision, no stiches, no scar – patients return to normal activity faster, with fewer complications.”
