I wanted to clarify the recent chain of postings on my charges for performing a Needle Aponeurotomy. Most NA providers who charge "$500-$700" per finger are accepting CASH only for their procedures, rather than accepting insurances, that is the only way a "set amount" can be designated for any surgical procedure. NA is covered by most insurances, so the amount you pay would be dependent on your insurance deductible plan. If you have good insurance, your out-of-pocket fees may be minimal. On the other hand, if you have a high deductible or 20% co-pay, it would be expensive. I understand the frustration and fury over the exorbitant fees that come with doing procedures in the Operating Room.

The surgical fees are NA at UW are no different than other providers. In fact, the current UW surgical fee is around $800 for the ENTIRE HAND, not $8000. The $8000 quote includes all UW facility fees and nursing charges for performing these in the Operating Room. Insurance reimbursement is only for one fee, regardless of number of fingers. So, providers charging PER FINGER are actually charging more.

I previously did these in the Operating Room because there was no mechanism/procedure room at the University of Washington in the Orthopaedic clinic. I have now arranged for the ability to perform NA in the clinic setting at my Bellevue office, as there is a procedure room there. Phone number (425) 626-7777. Again, the current surgical fee set by UW is around $800. UW accepts all insurances. Your co-pay would be based on your insurance plan.

Hope this clarifies things!!

I am new to the site and have also been searching for NA expert in Seattle area. After some calling around, a Dr. William B. Ericson (Montlake Terrace and at Evergreen on East Side) confirmed back to me through his assistant, Maureen, that he does perform NA. I have not yet got an answer on how many he has performed. I am still working on confirming his reply. For price comparison, Dr. Terrance J. Barry (trained in Paris), Hialeah, Fl. charges $600 per hand + $200 per consultation for NA.

Edited 10/27/09 07:47

After your post, I called Dr. Ericson's office. His receptionist says he's been doing aponeurotomy for 18 yrs, and I asked how many he'd done. She repeated that he's been doing it for 18 years. I said "OK, but he could have done one 18 years ago & claim he's been doing it for 18 years". She said "He does them every week". Then I asked if he did it as an office procedure and she said no, that it was a surgery and had to be done in a hospital OR. I said I had seen it done (on video) as an office procedure on several people and that's how I wanted it done, that there was no need to go through the risks of total anesthesia, finding someone to bring me up there (Kirkland), take me home, stay the night, and for me being out of it for 24 hrs. We went through several iterations of "Well, then, maybe you should find someone else to do it" and "I'd appreciate it if you'd tell Dr. Ericson that a patient has asked him to reconsider doing it as an office procedure" and "He's not going to reconsider" (!). I finally said "This is like asking someone to reconsider getting a telephone in 1920 instead of sending messages by courier". She replied "He's not going to reconsider" and I hung up. At least Dr. Huang is reconsidering doing it as an office procedure.

Oh yes. I asked if he treats Dupuytren's with radiotherapy and she said no.

Dr. Huang: If you're reading this, I'm asking you to please look into radiotherapy, or talk to UW's radiation oncologists (the area of medicine where this is usually done) to see if any of them would consider treating Dupuytren's contracture since for patients in the early stages, this appears to be the most successful treatment. Thank you.

So there we are. It looks like the closest RT clinic to me is in Boise. Because of a family situation, it would be very difficult for me to spend a week in Boise.

Dr. Eaton was personally instructed on this method by Dr. Lermusiaux and his colleagues in 2003. Dr. Eaton was the first physician to offer this procedure in the United States.

jimh and Randy H, your are correct, I did a little more research and it appears the first vestiges of Needle Aponeurotomy were evident in 1822 and perfected in France in the 1970's. Info on this can be found at http://plasticsurgerysf.com/dupuytrens/ including probability of recurrence following NA. I still dont understand the lack of info available from Ericson Hand and Nerve Center since they say they have been doing NA for "18 years".