Treatment outcome of radial tunnel release for patients with radial tunnel syndrome (RTS) and combined nerve compression disorders including RTS

Elferink, L. (2015) Treatment outcome of radial tunnel release for patients with radial tunnel syndrome (RTS) and combined nerve compression disorders including RTS. thesis, Medicine.

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Abstract

Introduction: Although the treatment outcomes of the more prevalent nerve compression disorders of the upper extremity are well described, this does not count for the treatment of Radial Tunnel Syndrome (RTS). It is a syndrome in which there is compression of the radial nerve in the proximal forearm, often co-occurring with other nerve compression disorders. It has been treated surgically for years by means of Radial Tunnel Release (RTR), however research on the outcome of this treatment method is scarce and inconclusive. This study looks at the outcome of RTR for patients who exclusively underwent RTR as well as for patients who underwent combined nerve decompression including RTR. Methods: This multi-centre study with prospectively and retrospectively collected data on patients who underwent RTR between January 2006 and December 2013 in one of the three participating medical centres. Demographic data about the patients and data about the surgery were collected from the patients’ medical files. The patients filled out three questionnaires, from which the answers determined the Roles and Maudsley score. Results: Sixty-six patients underwent 74 RTRs. Of all participating patients 64% had excellent or good Roles and Maudsley scores. Of the patients who underwent combined nerve decompression 57% of results were categorized as excellent or good, for patients who exclusively underwent RTR this was 79%. Patients report low pain scores, the median average pain score is 20 (1st quartile – 3rd quartile (Q1-Q3) 0-50), for function the median VAS is 80 (60-100) and for contentedness 73 (50-100). Conclusion: This study shows that the outcome of RTR is reasonable with a success rate of 64%. Patients who underwent combined nerve decompression scored worse on every subject in this study, being pain, function and contentedness and the Roles and Maudsley score which all however were not statistically significant. Further research, on a larger patient population should determine if patients who undergo combined nerve decompression indeed have a worse outcome or if the differences found are based on chance.

Item Type:	Thesis (Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Zöphel, Dr. O.T. and Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede and Xpert clinic Enschede and Streekziekenhuis Koningin Beatrix, Winterswijk
Faculty:	Medical Sciences
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2020 10:42
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2020 10:42
URI:	https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/365

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