Functional Status of Patients Subjected to Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Abstract

multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors that were independently associated with Hand10 scores. Results: Hand10 scores showed no statistical differences in terms of unilateral/bilateral CTS and sex differences. Single regression analysis showed that Hand10 scores correlated significantly with the pain VAS, SF-MPQ, PASS-20, SRS-18, s2PD at index and middle scores, and grip strength. Multiple regression analysis showed that grip strength (B = 1.47, β = 0.49, P = .00) and SRS-18 score (B = -0.91, β = -0.36, P = .02) were significant correlation factors for the Hand10 score (R 2 = 0.49). Conclusions: In patients with CTS, grip strength and psychological stress are significant correlating factors of disability according to a patient-administered upper extremity assessment. Objective: Describe functional status of people with total median nerve injuries at wrist level operated and rehabilitated in a public orthopedic hospital. Materials and Methods: Exploratory, retrospective case analysis. Population corresponds to participants with median nerve injury operated and rehabilitated through sensory reeducation protocol, in an orthopedic hospital in Santiago, Chile, between 18 and 60 years old between May 2013 and May 2014. Exclusion criteria include participants with an incomplete assessment recorded in hospital's clinical record. Data were obtained from clinical records, taking into consideration: mechanical detection threshold, static and dynamic 2-point discrimination, palmar abduction grip, and lateral and three-digit pinch strength. The outcomes are as follows: cause of injury, tendon injury associated, time between injury and surgery, time between surgery and assessment, age at surgery, quantity of therapy sessions, static and dynamic 2-point discrimination, mechanical detection threshold, palmar abduction manual muscle test, grip, and lateral and three-digit pinch strength. Data were tabulated and analyzed with SPSS v23.0 software, and distribution and descriptive analysis was conducted for parametric data. This study has approval of the ethics committee of the establishment. Results: Six patients had complete data for this study. All data distributed normally with Shapiro-Wilk test. Five were males and 1 female, average age of at the moment of injury was 35.1 (standard deviation [SD] = 9.19) years old, 5 out of 6 were right-handed, 4 were injured by glass, 1 by knife, and 1 by circular saw, and, in average, people had to wait 11.17 (SD = 7.05) days for repair surgery. All the cases had associated tendon injury that was also repaired in the surgery. The participants received between 10 and 54 sessions of physiotherapy that lasted 19 weeks on average. Only 3 of the 6 participants were given the medical clearance. The functional assessment took place 24 weeks after surgery on average; half the participants ended their rehabilitation period with at least 4.31 points when evaluated with Semmes-Weinstein Monofilaments. In static 2-point discrimination, 66.6% had less than 6 mm, and in dynamic 2-point d...