title: LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY AFTER CARPAL TUNNEL RELEASE.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the post-operative treatment of CTS, using the LLLT.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively evaluated 58 patients with CTS, randomly divided into two groups: treatment with LLLT (Group 1) and placebo (Group 2). A 830 nm gallium-aluminum-arsenic laser was used, with a power of 30 mW.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was female predominance in both groups. The mean age of the patients in Group 1 was 44.3 years and in Group 2, 51.9 years. The average duration of disease progression was around two years in both groups. The average time elapsed since discharge from treatment was 3.6 months in both groups, and fewer patients had postoperative complaints in Group 1 than in Group 2. At the end of the treatment, in Group 1, 29.41% of the patients presented electromyographic abnormalities, while in Group 2, 63.64% of the patients had abnormalities, after six months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was an initial study on adjuvant therapy using postoperative LLLT on CTS. The method presented was sufficient for postoperative evaluation of the patients in this study. Patients undergoing LLLT after surgery for CTS were benefited and had better functional outcomes than shown by the control group. The technique was effective and did not have any adverse effects on the patients studied.
authors.affiliation: Full Member of the Brazilian Association of Hand Surgery; Studying towards Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Universidade Federal Fluminense; Physician of the Hand Surgery Outpatient Clinic of Hospital Universitário Antonio Pedro - Universidade Federal Fluminense - Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo de Pinho Teixeira
authors.initials: Mde P
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Third-year Orthopedics and Traumatology Resident of Hospital Universitário Antonio Pedro - Universidade Federal Fluminense - Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel Costa Serrão
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: de Araújo
keywords: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; Laser Therapy; Low-Level; Median Neuropathy; Postoperative Period