DOES CARPAL TUNNEL SURGERY AFFECT THE POWER OF THE HAND?.

Carpal tunnel surgery is mostly performed in the field of hand surgery. During the procedure the transverse carpal ligament is cut. This ligament has an important role in the strength of the hand. Objective evaluation of the hand strength can be used as a judgment of patient’s ability to return to the previous level of their hand function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of carpal tunnel surgery in the strength of the hand.

Materials & Methods: In a prospective study, patients who had idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome, were diagnosed by subjective, objective and electrophysiological findings and underwent carpal tunnel surgery. Their hand strengths were evaluated by power and pinch grip before and 6 months after carpal tunnel surgery. Paired T-test was used for statistical analysis. P-values less than 0.05 indicated statistically significant effects.

Results: From an initial group of 103, 66 patients with the mean age of 48.98 and mean duration of symptoms almost 4.3 years were included in the study. The mean of the power grip strengths were 52.21 ±16.09 and 48.11 ± 13.98 before and 6 months after the surgery respectively. The mean of the pinch grip strengths were 14.16 ± 4.34 and 15.24 ± 3.3 before and 6 months after the surgery respectively. There were not statistically significant differences between the parameters before and 6 months after the surgery.

Conclusion: Carpal tunnel surgery and cutting the transverse carpal tunnel ligament does not have negative effects on the hand strength. The patients have the ability to return to their normal level of hand function 6 months after the surgery.