Does Dr. Silverstein use the “No-needle anesthesia” method to apply the pain medication?
The No-needle anesthesia method uses a “jet injection” device that uses pressure generated by a gas or a spring mechanism to push an anesthetic solution through the skin. A small ‘pop’ is felt; the feeling is similar to releasing a small rubber band against the skin. Dr. Silverstein does not utilize this technique due to concern he has about the ability to optimally sterilize the device. Unlike standard needles and syringes, with jet-injectors the fluid pathway is used more than once. The high-pressure of injector devices have been reported to cause a “splash-back” of blood onto or into the device. This splash-back can theoretically contaminate the device nozzle, the fluid pathway, or the lidocaine medication reservoir. The entire fluid pathway is not sterilized between each patient use. The design of single use devices, and/or better studies of existing devices need to be done to be absolutely certain that the devices are free of any risk of blood-borne transmission of infectious agen
