[The use of transdermal electroneurostimulation in the rehabilitation of patients after surgical decompression of the carpal tunnel].

UNLABELLED: Most of the clinical and neurophysiological disorders of the median nerve that persisted in patients after surgical decompression of the carpal tunnel (DCT) are associated not with acute compression of the nerve, but with myelinoaxonopathic disorders in the structure of the nerve that developed as a result of prolonged compression.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of transdermal electroneurostimulation (TENS) in the rehabilitation of patients with residual neurological deficit after surgical DCT.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We observed 45 patients after DCT (6-12 months), aged 30 to 50 years (mean age 42±3 years). All patients were diagnosed with primary carpal tunnel syndrome with a lesion of the dominant hand, of which 15 patients received pharmacotherapy; 15 patients - in addition to pharmacotherapy, received a course of low-frequency high-amplitude TENS (NTENS) and 15 patients - a course of high-frequency low-amplitude TENS (VTENS).

RESULTS: The regression of positive sensory symptoms was more pronounced against the background of VTENS and NTENS than after the use of pharmacotherapy, on average 6.6 times (p<0.01). At the same time, VTENS turned out to be more effective than NTENS by 28.5% (p<0.05). In the long-term follow-up period (2 months), the severity of positive sensory symptoms decreased in patients who received VTENS and NTENS, by an average of 58.1% compared with the baseline values before treatment (p<0.05). The severity of Tinel's symptom in patients who received a course of VTENS decreased by 44%, after a course of NTENS - by 67%, and after pharmacotherapy - by 14%. It was found that NTENS compared with VTENS was 51% more effective in reducing Tinel's symptom (p<0.05) and by 64% - Falen's symptom (p<0.05). The decrease in the time to perform the Jebsen-Taylor test (JTT) after the use of pharmacotherapy was on average 9% (p>1.00), and after TENS - 23% (p<0.05). When comparing VTENS and NTENS among themselves, NTENS turned out to be more effective on average by 68% (p<0.05). An improvement in electro-kymographic parameters was revealed only after the use of VTENS. At the same time, the decrease in the residual latency was 21.3% and the increase in the amplitude of the M-response was 14.3%.

CONCLUSION: Transdermal electroneurostimulation is a highly effective method used in the complex treatment of patients with residual neurological disorders after undergoing surgical decompression of the carpal tunnel. The maximum regression of positive sensory symptoms develops against the background of high-frequency low-amplitude transcutaneous electroneurostimulation, and the maximum anti-inflammatory effect, the greatest improvement in the function of small hand muscles and statistically significant neurophysiological restoration of the function of the median nerve are revealed after the application of a course of low-frequency high-amplitude transcutaneous electroneurostimulation. At the same time, positive dynamics after low-frequency high-amplitude transcutaneous electroneurostimulation and high-frequency low-amplitude transcutaneous electroneurostimulation persists in the long-term period.