To objectively and subjectively assess two modes of commonly employed rehabilitation and confirm a superior method to treat patients following carpal tunnel release. One of the problems following carpal tunnel release (CTR) for carpal tunnel syndrome, and all hand surgeries, is the debilitation in the postoperative period. This relates to muscle atrophy and joint stiffness due to immobilization or relative inactivity in the postoperative period. Specifically, patients suffer increased days off from work, lost wages, and difficulties with activities of daily living affecting the patient and society at large. CTR is a very common procedure in hand surgery making it easy to study and important to optimize the postoperative care.
The surgical procedure, carpal tunnel release, will be performed in a standard open fashion. In a random fashion, the patients will be placed into either of two rehabilitation groups following CTR with specifically different postoperative instructions after the procedure.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
16
They will begin exercises on the day after surgery and perform them three times daily for two weeks. The patients will have no restrictions concerning activity or return to work.
The patients will be restricted from using that hand during its implementation. One week following surgery the splint will be removed and the patient will be instructed to begin activity without restriction.
University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri, United States
days to return to activities of daily living, return to work, grip strength, pinch strength, digital sensibility, subjective pain control, number of pain pills used, grading of success,and any complications encountered.
Time frame: 1 week, 3 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year postoperatively
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