RECOVERY OF SENSORY FUNCTION AFTER SURGICAL DECOMPRESSION IN CARPAL-TUNNEL SYNDROME

The function of thick and thin sensory nerve fibers after surgical dec ompression in carpal tunnel syndrome were evaluated using quantitative sensory testing (QST). The thin nerve fibers were studied using tests for thermal thresholds, and the thick myelinated fibers by vibrametry The tests were performed before surgery and at 6 weeks, 4 and 10 mont hs after surgery. The improvement of function in thin nerve fibers cam e within 6 weeks (P=0.001). The improvement of function in thick myeli nated fibers continued to improve until 4 months after the operation ( P=0.0001). This difference in the time course of the recovery indicate s that the thick myelinated nerve fibers were more affected than the t hin nerve fibers. The function of both type sensory nerve fibers did a lso improve in the fifth finger (P=0.05). The function in thin nerve f ibers worsened somewhat between 6 weeks and 4 months after surgery, po ssibly due to postoperative scar tissue.