Dr. Christopher Jobe

Christopher Jobe, M.D., R.M.S.K., joined Oroville Hospital’s orthopedic surgery team in 2017.  Dr. Jobe received his medical degree from the Baylor College of Medicine in 1975 and completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at Duke University. He also pursued fellowship training in sports medicine to advance his knowledge and skill. He is board certified and spent more than 30 years performing orthopedic surgeries at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Dr. Jobe specializes in shoulder and knee surgery, diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound and sports injuries. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is an advanced non-invasive technique, which allows physicians to diagnose soft-tissue abnormalities such as carpal tunnel, rotator cuff tears, bursitis or shoulder dislocations. While many physicians use this procedure to aid injection placement, diagnostic ultrasound requires experience to clearly detect structural and dynamic abnormalities if visible by ultrasound.

Expert: Ultrasound creates a fast-track to recovery for people with carpal tunnel syndrome 

When Darrin Kean first started experiencing occasional numbness in his hands, he decided to ride it out, knowing that traditional surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) could sideline someone with a physically demanding job for weeks or months. Eventually, Kean’s symptoms progressed to pain so bad that he couldn’t sleep at night.

Seeking relief, he turned to Christopher Jobe, M.D., R.M.S.K., an orthopedic surgeon certified in the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound. By using ultrasound, Dr. Jobe can quickly and painlessly diagnose CTS and perform carpal tunnel release surgery that is more precise and less-invasive than traditional surgery, allowing patients to recover in a fraction of the time.

Kean had the ultrasound-guided surgery on a Thursday and returned to work the following Monday.

“My experience with Dr. Jobe was absolutely amazing,” he said. “Not only was I able to sleep through the night, but I was able to get back to work with minimal down time.”

A former chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Loma Linda University and past president of the American Shoulder and Elbow Society, Dr. Jobe has been using ultrasound in his practice for about 14 years. Based in Redlands, he’s one of just four orthopedic surgeons in the state certified in musculoskeletal ultrasound, which can be used to diagnose and treat CTS, as well as other joint problems like frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis).

CTS occurs when one of the major nerves to the hand  —  the median nerve — is compressed, causing pain, numbness and weakness in the hand and wrist, Dr. Jobe said. It’s a common condition that affects up to 10 million people in the United States, according to the American Medical Association. Most people with carpal tunnel syndrome start experiencing symptoms between age 40 and 50.

Obtaining a diagnosis of CTS can be an ordeal for most people experiencing symptoms because traditional diagnostic methods — including an MRI, painful electrodiagnostic testing and a nerve-conduction study — typically involve lengthy delays and bouncing around between specialists.

It doesn’t have to be that way, Dr. Jobe said. Using ultrasound, he can diagnose CTS in about 15 minutes during a single office visit.

“The benefits are night and day in terms of the patient experience,” he said. “Ultrasound is painless and allows us to immediately visualize what’s happening, so we can develop a plan to get the patient back to where they want to be as quickly as possible.”

That’s what happened with Virginia Rohde, who said she sought out Dr. Jobe after developing pain in her wrists, and after her hands started to freeze up while she was sewing or writing.

“I didn’t know what it was, but my daughter recommended Dr. Jobe, so I made an appointment,” she said. “He did an ultrasound right there in his office and diagnosed me with CTS.”

Dr. Jobe performed the ultrasound-guided surgery soon after and Rohde has been pain-free ever since, she said.

“My recovery was wonderful – no pain at all – and I was back to sewing and crocheting right away,” Rohde said. “I have some girlfriends who had the traditional surgery (with other doctors) and they all experienced a lot of problems. I had zero. I call Dr. Jobe ‘the miracle man’ because my experience was that wonderful.”

Traditional carpal tunnel release surgery involves fully exposing the transverse carpal ligament in the wrist, cutting it to widen the opening so the nerve has room to expand, then stitching everything up.

With musculoskeletal ultrasound, surgeons can make a tiny incision and use ultrasound imaging to guide their instruments, ensuring the accurate release of the transverse carpal ligament, while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues. Not only are recovery times faster, patients also experience reduced scarring.

Dr. Jobe performs the outpatient procedure at Loma Linda Surgical Center in Loma Linda, but treats patients from all over the state. His office accepts most insurance.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (909) 315-6515