Wg. Atherton et al., Follow-up after carpal tunnel decompression general practitioner surgery or hand clinic? A randomized prospective study, J HAND S-BR, 24B(3), 1999, pp. 296-297
Citations number
4
Categorie Soggetti
Ortopedics, Rehabilitation & Sport Medicine
Journal title
JOURNAL OF HAND SURGERY-BRITISH AND EUROPEAN VOLUME
We prospectively randomized 100 patients following carpal tunnel decompress
ion who were having a 2-week postoperative assessment and removal of stitch
es to either their local general practitioner (GP) or the hospital outpatie
nt department. All patients were seen at hospital 6 weeks postoperatively f
or a final assessment.
The waiting time for assessment and suture removal was shorter at the GP su
rgery than in the outpatient department (mean 13 min and 28 min respectivel
y) but significantly more patients were diagnosed as having wound infection
s (14% and 0% respectively); most sere given antibiotics, perhaps unnecessa
rily.