FAQ
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a technique that allows your surgeon to significantly reduce the size of an incision or incisions to gain access for an operation. MIS generally means a faster and less painful recovery period, allowing you to get back to work or daily duties quickly.
Minimally invasive surgery has many benefits, including:
- fewer/smaller cuts vs a large incision
- less trauma to muscles, nerves & tissue
- less bleeding
- less scarring
- less organ trauma
- less pain
- reduced need for narcotics, post procedure
- shorter recovery period
- less/no time required in hospital
- less effect on the immune system
- Ultra-Minimally Invasive Carpal Tunnel Release otherwise known as Ultrasound Guided Carpal Tunnel Release (USGCTR)
- Endoscopic Cubital Tunnel Release
- Ultrasound Guided Trigger Finger Release
- Ultrasound Guided Dupuytren’s Release
- Joint replacement surgery of the hand (fingers and thumb)
- Base of thumb arthroplasty/surgery (Pyrocarbon Implants/Pyrocardan/PI2)
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Ganglion Excision (Arthroscopic/Ultrasound Guided)
- Elbow Arthroscopy
- Ultrasound Guided Tennis Elbow Surgery
PRP Therapy or Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy is a good alternative to surgery in selected orthopaedic conditions. Problems such as rotator cuff tendinosis or partial thickness rotator cuff tears, tennis elbow or common extensor tendinosis or tears are examples of conditions amenable to PRP injection. Osteoarthritis of most joints including base of thumb, fingers, knee, elbow and shoulder are amenable to PRP Therapy and in some cases can delay surgical treatment such as joint replacement. All injections are performed under ultrasound guidance to improve the accuracy of the injection.
Click here to read more about PRP.
No, if you see Dr. Pearce, a GP referral is not necessary to allow access to Medicare benefits and the Medicare Safety Net, as long as you have an up-to-date Medicare Number.
After filling out some initial paperwork, you will be seen by one of our doctors, who will perform an initial consultation. After your consultation, you may be offered non-operative treatment, such as an ultrasound-guided intervention (for instance, a cortisone injection or PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), or you may be offered surgery on a later date. Most interventions will not occur on the day of the initial consultation.
The Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre is an outpatient-based facility that enables patients to access the Medicare rebate system for outpatient procedures. Private health insurance is not required to access the outpatient Medicare rebate system.
The costs involved include an initial consultation with a variable fee between $408 and $510, depending on which doctor you see, and a partial rebate of approximately $61.00 and $84.15. When you are initially seen at either Maguire Upper Limb, The Carpal Tunnel Clinic, or Sports & Orthopaedic Specialist, one of our doctors will assess you and decide whether you require non-operative or operative treatment.
Non-operative treatment may be offered on the day. If operative treatment is required, it will be scheduled for a suitable time, usually within 2 weeks. If you have been financially consented to at least 1 week prior to your initial consultation, we may be able to get you in for surgery within a matter of days. Pre-payment of the total surgery cost is required at least 1 week prior to surgery.
If you require a follow-up consultation, these appointments are billed between $204 and $260, with a rebate of approximately $21.00 to $42.30. However, if you have reached the Medicare Safety Net prior to your consultation, you should receive a rebate of up to 80% back from Medicare for these consultation fees.
Nonoperative interventions using Ultrasound, such as cortisone injections, attract an additional fee, which is outlined in your new patient information. Other procedures, such as platelet-rich plasma or Surgery, can also be subsidised by Medicare, and if you have reached the Safety Net, you may receive up to 80% back for these services.