Aydin M, Argun G, Acar B, Arikan M, Toğral G, Cinaroglu S, Mert A, Demi Rtas M. Residual Symptoms After Carpal Tunnel Decompression and Treatment With Gabapentin: A Multicenter Study.
Cureus 2021;
13:e17638. [PMID:
34646686 PMCID:
PMC8485700 DOI:
10.7759/cureus.17638]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives
To identify postoperative residual symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and to investigate the effectiveness of gabapentin in the treatment of residual symptoms.
Materials and methods
Of a total of 412 patients who underwent surgery for CTS in four centers over a four-year period, 14 who had residual symptoms after CTS release and did not receive gabapentin (Group A) and 14 patients with postoperative residual symptoms and received gabapentin were included in this retrospective study. Postoperative residual symptoms were defined as persistent nocturnal numbness and tingling with or without occasional daytime pain. Tinel’s and Phalen’s tests were performed for the diagnosis of residual symptoms. Functional Severity Score (FSS), Symptom Severity Score (SSS), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were used to evaluate functional outcomes, severity of symptoms, and numbness and sleep quality, respectively at six and 12 weeks postoperatively.
Level of Evidence: III, therapeutic study
Results
There was no statistically significant difference in the mean postoperative FSS (p=0.845) and VAS-numbness scores (p=0.367) between the groups. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the mean postoperative SSS (p=0.025) and VAS-sleep quality scores (p<0.001) between the groups.
Conclusion
Gabapentin treatment can be a treatment of choice for residual symptoms after CTS surgery and clinical improvement can be achieved owing to its relieving effect, particularly in nocturnal symptoms of patients having neuropathic pain.
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