Dr. Paige Fox Awarded VA Grant for Nerve Compression Research

Dr. Paige Fox, Associate Professor of Surgery and Residency Program Director in the Division of Stanford Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, has received a four-year grant through the Rehabilitation Research, Development and Translation Broad Portfolio (RRDT BP) at the Veterans Affairs (VA).

The project, titled “Improving Chronic Nerve Compression Outcomes through Accurate and Early Identification of Muscle Changes,” focuses on improving the diagnosis and treatment of nerve compression disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

The research team will use motion tracking technology to help identify muscle changes associated with chronic nerve compression and follow patient recovery after treatment. The project aims to improve diagnostic accuracy for complex patients and assist surgeons in determining timing for intervention and counseling patients on expected recovery after surgery.

“Our project will allow primary care physicians to more accurately diagnose nerve compression in complex patients,” said Dr. Fox. “It will also help surgeons know when to operate and better counsel patients about their likelihood of full recovery after surgery.”

Dr. Fox serves as co-principal investigator alongside Dr. Catherine Curtin. Collaborators on the project include Drs. James Chang, Ray Chou, Kamala Rodriguez, and Mattias Rydberg.