Determining the functional sensibility of the hand in patients with peripheral nerve repair: Feasibility of using a novel manual tactile test for monitoring the progression of nerve regeneration.
METHODS
Case-controlled cohort study.


BACKGROUND
Sensory function is difficult to observe during nerve regeneration processes. Traditional sensory tests are limited to identifying the level of functioning hand sensation for sensory stimulus is given passively to the cutaneous surface of the hand.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the outcome changes in the manual tactile test (MTT), Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) and 2-point discrimination (2PD) tests for patients with nerve repair and to investigate the concurrent validity of MTT by comparing it with the results of traditional tests.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with nerve injury of the upper limbs were recruited, along with 15 matched healthy controls. The MTT, SWM, and 2PD tests were used to examine the sensory status of the subjects.


RESULTS
Three subtests (barognosis, roughness differentiation, and stereognosis) in MTT showed that the patients improved with time. A moderate and mild correlation was found between the MTT and 2PD results and between the barognosis and SWM results.


CONCLUSIONS
The MTT provides practical and functional perspectives on detecting nerve progression during the courses of degeneration and regeneration.


METHODS
IV.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Hsiu-Yun
HY
Hsu
Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Li-Chieh
LC
Kuo
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Ta-Shen
TS
Kuan
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Hsiu-Ching
HC
Yang
Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Fong-Chin
FC
Su
Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, ChiMei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
Haw-Yen
HY
Chiu
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Hospital and College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; International Research Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration (iWRR), National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: sjshieh@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
Shyh-Jou
SJ
Shieh
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D012677:Sensation
Manual tactile test; Nerve injury; Sensation; Tactile gnosis