A comparison between complete immobilisation and protected active mobilisation in sensory nerve recovery following isolated digital nerve injury

A comparison between complete immobilisation and protected active mobilisation in sensory nerve recovery following isolated digital nerve injury

Post-operative immobilisation following isolated digital nerve repair remains a controversial issue amongst the microsurgical community. Protocols differ from unit to unit and even, as evidenced in our unit, may differ from consultant to consultant. We undertook a retrospective review of 46 patients...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of hand surgery, European volume Vol. 37; no. 5; pp. 422 - 426
Main Authors: Henry, F. P., Farkhad, R. I., Butt, F. S., O’Shaughnessy, M., O’Sullivan, S. T.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-06-2012
Sage Publications
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Female
Fingers - innervation
Fingers - physiopathology
Hand Strength
Humans
Immobilization
Male
Medical sciences
Nerve Regeneration
Peripheral Nerve Injuries - rehabilitation
Range of Motion, Articular
Retrospective Studies
Splints
sensory outcome
nerve regeneration
post-operative immobilisation
protected active mobilisation
Digital nerve repair
Postoperative
Prognosis
Recovery
Regeneration
Orthopedics
Sensory nerve
Repair
Comparative study
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Summary:Post-operative immobilisation following isolated digital nerve repair remains a controversial issue amongst the microsurgical community. Protocols differ from unit to unit and even, as evidenced in our unit, may differ from consultant to consultant. We undertook a retrospective review of 46 patients who underwent isolated digital nerve repair over a 6-month period. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 18 months. Twenty-four were managed with protected active mobilisation over a 4-week period while 22 were immobilised over the same period. Outcomes such as return to work, cold intolerance, two-point discrimination and temperature differentiation were used as indicators of clinical recovery. Our results showed that there was no significant difference noted in either clinical assessment of recovery or return to work following either post-operative protocol, suggesting that either regime may be adopted, tailored to the patient’s needs and resources of the unit.
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ISSN:1753-1934
2043-6289
DOI:10.1177/1753193411431208