Xia W, Bai Z, Dai R, Zhang J, Lu J, Niu W. The effects of sensory re-education on hand function recovery after peripheral nerve repair: A systematic review.
NeuroRehabilitation 2021;
48:293-304. [PMID:
33814470 DOI:
10.3233/nre-201612]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Peripheral nerve injury can result in both sensory and motor deficits, and these impairments can last for a long period after nerve repair.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review the effects of sensory re-education (SR) on facilitating hand function recovery after peripheral nerve repair.
METHODS
This systematic review was limited to articles published from 1970 to 20 December 2020. Electronic searching was performed in CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline databases to include trials investigating the effects of SR training on hand function recovery after peripheral nerve repair and included only those studies with controlled comparisons.
RESULTS
Sixteen articles were included in final data synthesis. We found that only four studies could be rated as having good quality and noted obvious methodological limitations in the remaining studies. The current evidence showed that early SR with mirror visual feedback and the combinational use of classic SR and topical temporary anesthetic seemed to have long- and short-term effects, respectively on improving the sensibility and reducing the disabilities of the hand. The evidence to support the effects of conventional classical SR on improving hand functions was not strong.
CONCLUSIONS
Further well-designed trials are needed to evaluate the effects of different SR techniques on hand function after nerve repair over short- and long-term periods.
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