UT Health Austin will be closed on Monday, January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Due to inclement weather and to ensure the safety of our patients and staff, UT Health Austin will be closed on Tuesday, January 21. Telehealth appointments will proceed as scheduled, but all in-clinic services and visits will be rescheduled through our Access Center and individual departments. For non-urgent matters, you can always message your care team through your MyUTHA Patient Portal.


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In-Office Procedures

When people think of surgery, they often envision a hospital operating room and the administration of general anesthesia. At UT Health Austin’s Musculoskeletal Institute, we understand the need for convenient and affordable procedures and offer a range of hand, wrist, and elbow surgeries that can be performed in-office using newer techniques for local anesthesia.

About In-Office Procedures

In-office procedures may be performed through the Musculoskeletal Institute to correct a variety of conditions, including carpal tunnel, trigger finger, Dupuytren’s disease, or ganglion cysts. Many minor injuries can also be treated effectively through our in-office procedures.

In-office procedures are performed under local anesthesia. This means that while pain in your hand and/or arm is numbed, you do not lose consciousness as you would under general anesthesia. Your recovery timeline following the procedure may vary. Oftentimes, you are able to resume most of your regular activities immediately.

Advantages of an in-office procedure:

  • Minimal time is spent at the doctor’s office, typically around an hour
  • The procedure itself is brief, usually taking approximately ten minutes.
  • The procedure is relatively affordable, with multiple payment options available You can eat breakfast the day of your surgery
  • For some procedures, you are able to drive yourself home
  • It offers a more convenient and accessible to a hospital or surgery center

Treatment Approach

The Musculoskeletal Institute care team will work with you to understand the risks and benefits of surgery to determine whether your condition is best addressed through an in-office procedure or some other method. An in-office procedure may be recommended if other treatment options are ineffective. If you decide to undergo an in-office procedure, your care team will help you understand what to expect before, during, and after the procedure as well as the details of the recovery process.

Appointment Information

For more information about the Musculoskeletal Institute or to schedule an appointment, please call 1-833-UT-CARES (1-833-882-2737).