I'm not sure what method the surgeon used, but I had the surgery. I have no bad side affects. I went to see the hand surgeon because of pain in my left thumb. They did a test where the shot electric currents down my arms. The test felt weird. As a result of the test he asked me if I had any pain or numbness in my right hand. As a matter of fact I did, but it wasn't as big a problem as the pain in my left thumb. He said the pain in my thumb is from arthritis and their isn't a lot that can be done about it, but the slight pain and numbness in my right hand would probably get worse and offered me this surgery. The pain and numbness went away a few weeks after the surgery.