Functional Tests to Quantify Recovery Following Carpal Tunnel Release

Details

• Personal Author:
  Radwin RG ; Sesto ME ; Zachary SV
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: An objective test is needed to evaluate outcome following carpal tunnel release. A method to evaluate sensory and motor function related to carpal tunnel syndrome was investigated. METHODS: Thirty-six candidates for carpal tunnel surgical procedures underwent a physical examination and nerve-conduction studies and completed a survey regarding symptoms. A battery of psychomotor and sensory tests was administered bilaterally immediately before surgery and again six weeks after surgery. The outcome variables included dynamic sensory gap-detection thresholds and rapid pinch-and-release rates. RESULTS: The average gap-detection threshold for the index finger in the surgical-treatment group demonstrated a 43% improvement, decreasing from 0.14 mm preoperatively to 0.08 mm at six weeks postoperatively (p < 0.01). The average gap-detection threshold for the index finger in the non-surgical-treatment group demonstrated no significant improvement, decreasing from 0.10 mm preoperatively to 0.08 mm postoperatively (p = 0.10). With the upper force level set at 10% of the maximum voluntary contraction, the average pinch rate in the surgical-treatment group demonstrated a 20% improvement, increasing from 6.65 pinches per second preoperatively to 7.96 pinches per second postoperatively (p < 0.001). The average pinch rate in the non-surgical-treatment group demonstrated a 7% improvement, increasing from 6.89 pinches per second preoperatively to 7.37 pinches per second at six weeks postoperatively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Measurable and significantly greater improvement was observed when the surgical-treatment group was compared with the non-surgical-treatment group in terms of these two sensory and psychomotor functional testing outcomes at six weeks. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study, Level II-1 (prospective cohort study). See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cumulative Trauma Disorders Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Nervous System Occupational Health Safety Sense Organs Workplace
• Keywords:
  Arm-injuries Carpal-tunnel-syndrome Cumulative-trauma Cumulative-trauma-disorders Injuries Musculoskeletal-system-disorders Neuromotor-function Neuromuscular-function Peripheral-nervous-system Sensory-disorders Sensory-motor-system Workplace-monitoring

  More +
• ISSN:
  0021-9355
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 5 ; Wisconsin
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  86
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20026177
• Citation:
  J Bone Jt Surg 2004 Dec; 86-A(12):2614-2620
• Contact Point Address:
  Robert G. Radwin, University of Wisconsin, 1550 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706
• Email:
  radwin@engr.wisc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2005
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Musculoskeletal Disorders of the Upper Extremities
• Performing Organization:
  University of Wisconsin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Madison, WI
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19960901
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
• End Date:
  20010831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:02cde2d869bbc74cb29f30e8c1dc25eb524d76b692d027e629e673da9d16dcf6119cb8f3c73ba27e7030ab835b95f54d3b07e82e575677233c34ab724eeb929e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/197228/cdc_197228_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 921.27 KB ]