The UNC Orthopaedics Hand and Microsurgery Division was proudly represented at the 25th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), where the team’s research was recognized among the top submissions of the year. Altogether, the UNC team bestowed three poster presentations and two podium presentations, while faculty moderated three sessions and gave seven instructional course talks.
One of the studies, “Impact of Perioperative GLP-1RAs on Outcomes Following Carpal Tunnel Release,” was selected as a Top 10 Paper for 2025, underscoring the division’s leadership in exploring timely clinical questions that are shaping the future of hand surgery. The project examined the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on outcomes following carpal tunnel release, providing valuable insights for improving patient care.
Dr. Megan Patterson, Division Chief of Hand and Microsurgery, highlighted the division’s outstanding national presence and the continued momentum of its research program, noting how these efforts reflect the team’s commitment to both clinical excellence and discovery.
“It was an absolute pleasure getting to represent UNC Orthopaedics at the 25th Annual ASSH Meeting,” said Dr. Nicholas Banks, resident and presenting author. “Our work highlights the growing importance of understanding how new medications impact surgical outcomes—and it’s exciting to contribute to that conversation.”
Dr. Stephen Himmelberg also commented on the research he presented, “Validation of a 2D Artificial Intelligence Camera Application to Assess Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Range of Motion,” a collaboration between residents and the hand surgery teams at UNC, Duke, and WakeMed.
“Our project offered validation for a new, faster approach to measuring forearm, wrist, and hand motion in clinic using the Exer AI system,” said Dr. Himmelberg. “It was a great chance to work together with industry partners and other institutions toward advancements in the field of hand surgery.”
The Hand Division continues to build on this success and has hopes to present innovative studies in progress and additional findings at next year’s ASSH meeting in Boston.
