Peripheral nerve decompression in the upper limb in spinal cord injury: experiences at the National Spinal Injuries Centre, UK.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of consecutive upper limb peripheral nerve decompressions in SCI patients. All procedures were performed at a single National Spinal Injuries Centre between 2015 and 2019.

OBJECTIVES

Entrapment neuropathies in the upper limb are underdiagnosed and undertreated in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). This cohort study represents the first published outcomes of upper limb peripheral nerve decompression in patients with SCI.

SETTING

National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire, UK.

METHODS

Data collected from electronic medical records included patient demographics, procedures performed, length of inpatient stay, nerve conduction studies, and patient satisfaction. Patients were also contacted by telephone to complete a questionnaire that included patient satisfaction, the NHS 'Friends & Family Test' and validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

RESULTS

Thirty-four decompression procedures (24 carpal tunnel, 10 cubital tunnel) were performed in 24 patients (14 with paraplegia, 10 tetraplegia). 71% of patients had pre-operative nerve conduction studies: 71% of these were graded as severe. Mean length of stay was 14 nights. 91% of patients were satisfied with their procedure at clinic follow-up. Mean Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) symptom scores were reduced from 3.7 to 1.3 pre- vs. post-operatively (p < 0.001). Patient Reported Ulnar Nerve Evaluation (PRUNE) scores reduced from 49.4 to 23.0 (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

In our experience, SCI patients tend to present with severe upper limb nerve entrapment syndromes. Operative management is well tolerated with low risk of complications and can result in marked improvements in symptoms and function.