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Preserving superficial nerve in carpal tunnel decompression has no effect on scar pain
Researchers find no difference in scar pain between two treatment methods at 6 months postsurgery.
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SAN DIEGO — Preserving the superficial nerve branches does not appear to reduce the pain often experienced by patients following open carpal tunnel release surgery, according to a study presented here.
Alexander Walter Siegmeth, MD, FRCS, of Vancouver, British Columbia, and colleagues conducted a randomized, controlled trial involving 42 patients with bilateral idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. A single surgeon performed all procedures, which involved a technique that preserved the superficial nerve branches crossing the incision site on one hand of each patient. The contralateral hand received a standard open decompression.
Siegmeth presented the results at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting.
"With [decompression], excellent long-term results have been reported. However, some studies show that a significant number of patients suffer from scar discomfort and it can last up to 6 months postoperatively," he said.
Researchers assessed the hands at various intervals, using the Visual Analog Scale for pain and a custom questionnaire, based on the Patient Evaluation Measure, which physicians in the United Kingdom typically use, Siegmeth said.
After evaluation, researchers found no difference in scar pain between the two methods at 6 weeks, 3 months or 6 months after surgery.
"Interestingly, there was no difference in the pain score at all three time points ... but there was a significant difference in surgical time," Siegmeth said.
For more information:
- Hopkinson-Woolley JA, Siegmeth AW. Randomized trial comparing standard open decompression with technique preserving the skin nerves. #364. Presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 74th Annual Meeting. Feb. 14-18, 2007. San Diego.