Comparing the outcome of nervous-muscular agitatio before and after carpal tunnel release

Filip Georgiew
Email src
Andrzej Maciejczak
Jakub Florek
Instytut Ochrony Zdrowia PWSZ w Tarnowie, Polska
Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszow, Poland
Oddział Ortopedii i Traumatologii Szpitala Wojewódzkiego im. Św. Łukasza w Tarnowie, Polska

Abstract

Introduction. According to literature surgical decompression is believed the most effective aspect of the management of carpal tunnel syndrome. It results in immediate relief of strenuous symptoms of this entity. This in turn enables operated patients return to normal functioning including everyday life and occupational activity.

Material and method. The aim of this article is comparing the outcome of nervous – muscular agitation before and after carpal tunnel release obtained through the use of the i/t curve. The study group included 88 patients (107 upper limbs): 70 females (86 hands) and 18 males (21 hands) aged 25 to 77 years (average 54,4 years).

Results. Statistically significant improvement was noted in following clinical aspects of CTS: subjective complaints (Levine scores), functional dexterity of affected hand (Levine scores), value of nervous – muscular agitation obtained through the use of the triangular impulse timp 100 ms, chronotaxy, accommodation quotient.

Conclusion. Changes in the shape of the i/t curve in patients with CTS after surgical treatment are slight. Differences between pre and postoperative treatment are present in the values of nervous – muscular agitation obtained through the use of the triangular impulse timp 100 ms and chronaxy. Accommodation quotient is a valuable parameter which can be used to ‘record’ changes in neuromuscular excitation after applied treatment. The extension of the test using the i/t curve to include the analysis of sensor excitability can help especially in patient with mild CTS. There are high correlation among changes of value of accommodation quotient and the subjective changes of functional state at patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome.

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited