There is a new procedure that has emerged for the treatment of tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, and achilles tendonitis. The FAST ™ technique offers a minimally invasive treatment for these and other conditions. At this point, there is very little in the way of peer reviewed literature supporting its use. I am intrigued by the technique and will likely pursue the training necessary to provide this procedure to my patients.
Right now, there are interventional radiologists in the area who are aggressively marketing this technique, and do so without requiring a referral from the patient's primary care physician or orthopaedic surgeon. I have several concerns about this trend, and caution patients the following:
1. A radiologist is not trained to diagnose or treat conditions of the musculoskeletal system. Every case of heel pain is not plantar fasciitis.
2. Although the procedure seems to be safe, if there is a complication, a radiologist is not trained to diagnose or manage it.
3. The technique is being done for conditions that 9 times out of 10, either get better on their own with no treatment, or respond to cheap and conservative treatment such as rest, ice, stretching, bracing, immobilization, NSAIDs, etc.
With that being said, I do see patients for whom this technique is probably a reasonable alternative to a much bigger and potentially riskier procedure. In those cases, I have recommended that patients consider it.
Rest assured, we at Nebraska Orthopaedics are familiar with this technique and interested in its application. When we are convinced that it is a safe and effective treatment option, we plan to offer it to our patients in the context of a holistic orthopaedic treatment protocol.
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