MINOR SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Well equipped to treat and manage your minor surgical procedure needs
MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURES
Dr. Shah is highly trained in treating conditions that require minor surgical procedures, such as:
Joint Injections
Wound Care
Abscess Drainage
Laceration Repair
Skin Tag Removal
Ingrown Toenail Removal
Wart Removal
VITALCARE IN-OFFICE MINOR SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Cortisone Injections for Joints
Cortisone injections are used to help relieve inflammation and pain that is localized in a joint, such as the shoulder, knee, foot or hand. Cortisone injections contain a corticosteroid, which is an anti-inflammatory medication. When injected into the joint in the proper location, it can be successful in treating conditions like bursitis, tendinitis and arthritis providing both short and long-term pain relief.
VitalCare Family Practice is pleased to offer cortisone injections for patients that suffer from chronic joint pain. If your chronic joint pain does not improve after a cortisone injection, we can refer you to a specialist for further evaluation and treatment.
If you have any questions or concerns about a cortisone injection, please call us at (804) 256-8282.
What To Expect
Our providers at VitalCareFamily Practice are highly trained in delivering cortisone injections as an in-office procedure. In preparation for your cortisone injection, we will collect a thorough health history and the appropriate x-rays.
We will thoroughly clean the skin around the injection site and numb the site by applying a local anesthetic. Once you are numb, we will inject the cortisone into the proper location. It is normal to feel pressure during the procedure as the medicine is released into the joint. The corticosteroid will help to reduce inflammation and pain in the joint over a span of several days.
VitalCare Family Practice will give you post procedural instructions to follow at home for the first few days after your injection. It is normal to have soreness in the joint for a few days after the injection. The pain should be manageable and controllable.
Proper wound care is necessary to help prevent infection and promote healing of the skin. Depending on your particular wound, the providers at VitalCare Family Practice will assess your needs and begin your treatment in the office. Some of the wound care procedures can be performed at home such as applying topical antibiotics, cleaning and dressing the wound. We will schedule routine visits to check on the healing of the wound and to ensure that it is not infected.
For an abscess in the skin to start healing, it is often necessary to remove the infection by draining the pus. At VitalCare Family Practice, we will numb and sterilize the infected area and use a sterile needle to drain the abscess. Once the infection is drained, the skin can be covered with a sterile dressing and you may be prescribed an oral antibiotic. T
his in-offfice, minor surgical procedure is commonly treated by our providers, and healing from the procedure typically takes place quickly. Our providers will schedule routine visits to check on the progress of your healing.
For minor cuts, we can glue or bond the skin together to promote healing. The dermabond layer will usually fall off in about a week and your cut will be healed. For deeper cuts, VitalCare Family Practice can suture or staple the wound to close it and prevent further bleeding and risk of infection. If you have sutures or staples, you will return to our office in 7-10 days to have them removed.
Ingrown toenails occur when the nail grows into the skin instead of on top of it and they may be inflamed, painful and even infected. Ingrown toenails usually affect the big toes and tend to happen more frequently in people with thick or curved nails. The condition generally consists of pain, redness and swelling in the affected nail.
If you are suffering with persistent pain and redness around an ingrown toenail, medical intervention may be required to remove it and restore the health of the area. If it is infected, our providers at VitalCare Family Practice will prescribe an antibiotic and schedule a recheck visit to make sure you are healing. It is especially important for patients with diabetes to have ingrown toenails removed under the supervision of your doctor.
A skin tag is a small piece of skin that is raised or hangs from your skin. They usually form in places where skin rubs together like armpits, neck and eyelids. VitalCare Family Practice offers skin tag removal for patients who are bothered by this common skin condition. It can be performed at your annual wellness visit. Skin tags are not generally harmful or painful, but can become irritated by from rubbing against clothing. We strongly encourage patients not to try to remove a skin tag at home as it can cause bleeding and infection.
A wart is caused by a virus that triggers the growth of extra cells which become thick and hard in an area on your skin. Warts are common on the hands and feet, but can occur anywhere on the skin. At VitalCare Family Practice, we will identify the type of wart you have and recommend the best treatment options. Most warts can be treated with a topical salicylic acid that gradually erodes the wart layer by layer over time. Some warts can be frozen with cryotherapy.
