title: Usefulness of hand rehabilitation after carpal tunnel surgery.
abstract: The purpose of this randomized trial was to assess the clinical evolution after carpal tunnel release in subjects with long-term carpal tunnel syndrome. The evaluation criteria were symptom occurrence, motor performance, and delay in returning to work. A total of 100 subjects were assessed four times (prior to surgery, and 12 days, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery) using the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire, the nine-hole peg test (NHPT), and the Jebsen-Taylor test (JTT). Subjects were randomized to a rehabilitation program or to a progressive home exercise program. No difference in symptom occurrence between the two groups was detected after 1 and 3 months. One month after surgery, only patients in the first group showed motor dexterity improvement according to NHPT and JTT scores. At the 3-month follow-up, the two groups did not differ but the group undergoing rehabilitation showed a shorter return-to-work interval. A rehabilitation approach after hand surgery is clinically relevant to accelerate recovery but neither modifies functional recovery nor reduces symptom occurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Ancona, Ospedale Regionale Torrette, Via Conca 2, 60020 Ancona, Italy. l.provinicali@popcsi.unian.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Provinciali
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giattini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Splendiani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Logullo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D004576:Electromyography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities