Does The Dominant Hand Factor Have an Effect on Postoperative Recovery in The Surgical Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Abstract

Objective: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most frequently encountered entrapment neuropathy. Surgical treatment is usually suggested to patients with severe symptoms. In this study, we aimed to examine the effect of the dominant hand on the clinical results of CTS decompression surgery.

Methods: Fifty (5M, 45F) patients were included in the study. The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory was used to identify the dominant hand of patients included in the study. Visual analogue scale (VAS) values were evaluated pre- and postoperatively.

Results: Twenty-eight patients underwent surgery on the dominant hand and 22 patients had surgery to their non-dominant hand. The VAS values of patients who underwent non-dominant hand surgery were lower than those who underwent surgery on the dominant hand.

Conclusion: In our study, it was determined that patient complacency after surgical procedures performed on dominant hands was less when compared with the non-dominant side. We believe that suitable exercise and protection programs for dominant hands in the postoperative period of carpal tunnel surgery, in addition to a good and careful surgical technique, positively affects the results of surgical treatment.