title: Does sensory relearning improve tactile function after carpal tunnel decompression? A pragmatic, assessor-blinded, randomized clinical trial.
abstract: Despite surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome being effective in 80%-90% of cases, chronic numbness and hand disability can occur. The aim of this study was to investigate whether sensory relearning improves tactile discrimination and hand function after decompression. In a multi-centre, pragmatic, randomized, controlled trial, 104 patients were randomized to a sensory relearning ( n = 52) or control ( n = 52) group. A total of 93 patients completed a 12-week follow-up. Primary outcome was the shape-texture identification test at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes were touch threshold, touch localization, dexterity and self-reported hand function. No significant group differences were seen for the primary outcome (Shape-Texture Identification) at 6 weeks or 12 weeks. Similarly, no significant group differences were observed on secondary outcomes, with the exception of self-reported hand function. A secondary complier-averaged-causal-effects analysis showed no statistically significant treatment effect on the primary outcome. Sensory relearning for tactile sensory and functional deficits after carpal tunnel decompression is not effective.
  
  
  METHODS
  II.
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jerosch-Herold
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: 2 Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shepstone
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014110:Touch; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Sensory relearning; carpal tunnel syndrome; cortical plasticity; nerve compression; sensory retraining