Application of systematic early rehabilitation training in patients undergoing primary neuroanastomosis and thumb opposition reconstruction due to complete median nerve laceration due to carpal injuries.

OBJECTIVE

This study is intended to investigate the effect of systematic early rehabilitation training in patients undergoing primary neuroanastomosis and thumb opposition reconstruction due to complete median nerve laceration due to carpal injuries.

METHOD: Sixty patients with complete median nerve laceration due to carpal injuries, who underwent primary neuroanastomosis and thumb opposition reconstruction were randomly divided into a control group (started conventional rehabilitation training 4 weeks after surgery) and an observation group (started systematic early rehabilitation training 48 h postoperatively), with 30 cases in each group. The functional status of the median nerve (sensory/motor nerve conduction velocity, amplitude and latency) was determined 3 months after training in both groups. Hand function [tendon total active mobility (TAM), Minnesota Manual Dexterity Text (MMDT), and Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT)] was assessed in both groups after 2 and 3 months of training. The incidence of clinical symptoms (limb numbness, joint stiffness, chronic pain, and limb atrophy) at 1 year after training was compared.

RESULTS

After 3 months of training, compared to the control group, the conduction velocity and amplitude of sensory and motor nerves of the median nerve were higher and the latency was shorter in the patients of the observation group (P < 0.05). After 2 and 3 months of training, the recovery effects of tendon TAM, MMDT and PPT of patients in the observation group were better versus the control group (P < 0.05). One year after training, the incidence of limb numbness, joint stiffness, chronic pain and limb atrophy of patients in the observation group was lower relative to the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The implementation of systematic early rehabilitation training in patients undergoing primary neuroanastomosis and thumb opposition reconstruction for complete median nerve laceration resulting from wrist injury significantly promotes the early recovery of median nerve and hand function while reducing the incidence of complications.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.