Usefulness of hand rehabilitation after carpal tunnel surgery

The purpose of this randomized trial was to assess the clinical evolution a fter carpal tunnel release in subjects with long-term carpal tunnel syndrom e. The evaluation criteria were symptom occurrence, motor performance, and delay in returning to work. A total of 100 subjects were assessed four time s (prior to surgery, and 12 days, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery) usin g the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire, the nine-hole peg test (NHPT), an d the Jebsen-Taylor test (JTT). Subjects were randomized to a rehabilitatio n program or to a progressive home exercise program. No difference in sympt om occurrence between the two groups was detected after 1 and 3 months. One month after surgery, only patients in the first group showed motor dexteri ty improvement according to NHPT and JTT scores. At the 3-month follow-up, the two groups did not differ but the group undergoing rehabilitation showe d a shorter return-to-work interval. A rehabilitation approach after hand s urgery is clinically relevant to accelerate recovery but neither modifies f unctional recovery nor reduces symptom occurrence. (C) 2000 John Wiley & So ns, Inc.