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Enhanced sensory relearning after nerve repair by using repeated forearm anaesthesia: aspects on time dynamics of treatment

Lundborg, Göran LU ; Bjorkman, A and Rosén, Birgitta LU (2007) In Acta Neurochirurgica. Supplementum 100. p.121-126
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We describe a new principle for enhancing the effects of sensory re-education following nerve injury and repair. The outcome from nerve repair in adult patients is generally poor. One reason is the functional cortical reorganisation which always occurs because of axonal misdirection at the repair site. In healthy individuals selective anaesthesia of the forearm results in improved hand sensation. Here we hypothesised that this principle would be valid also after nerve injury and repair. METHOD: In a prospective, randomised, double blind study we studied the effects of cutaneous forearm anaesthesia combined with sensory reeducation on the outcome after median or ulnar nerve repair at wrist or distal forearm level. FINDINGS:... (More)
BACKGROUND: We describe a new principle for enhancing the effects of sensory re-education following nerve injury and repair. The outcome from nerve repair in adult patients is generally poor. One reason is the functional cortical reorganisation which always occurs because of axonal misdirection at the repair site. In healthy individuals selective anaesthesia of the forearm results in improved hand sensation. Here we hypothesised that this principle would be valid also after nerve injury and repair. METHOD: In a prospective, randomised, double blind study we studied the effects of cutaneous forearm anaesthesia combined with sensory reeducation on the outcome after median or ulnar nerve repair at wrist or distal forearm level. FINDINGS: EMLA-application four times over a two week period starting with beginning reinnervation of the fingers resulted in significantly improved sensory recovery (tactile gnosis) as compared to the placebo group and also at assessment four weeks after the last EMLA-session. However, at assessment 8-11 months after the first EMLA-treatment there was no difference between the groups. CONLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that repeated cutaneous forearm anaesthesia over a two week period can enhance the effects of sensory re-education at least over the four following weeks. However, the optimal time protocol for EMLA-treatment, aiming at a long-lasting or permanent effect on sensory recovery still has to be defined. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Acta Neurochirurgica. Supplementum
volume
100
pages
121 - 126
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:17985560
  • scopus:38449090847
ISSN
0065-1419
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Hand Surgery Research Group (013241910), Reconstructive Surgery (013240300)
id
15bf42e5-157e-461f-ba90-b9640a8ee165 (old id 1140983)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:16:23
date last changed
2022-03-15 18:31:24
@article{15bf42e5-157e-461f-ba90-b9640a8ee165,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND: We describe a new principle for enhancing the effects of sensory re-education following nerve injury and repair. The outcome from nerve repair in adult patients is generally poor. One reason is the functional cortical reorganisation which always occurs because of axonal misdirection at the repair site. In healthy individuals selective anaesthesia of the forearm results in improved hand sensation. Here we hypothesised that this principle would be valid also after nerve injury and repair. METHOD: In a prospective, randomised, double blind study we studied the effects of cutaneous forearm anaesthesia combined with sensory reeducation on the outcome after median or ulnar nerve repair at wrist or distal forearm level. FINDINGS: EMLA-application four times over a two week period starting with beginning reinnervation of the fingers resulted in significantly improved sensory recovery (tactile gnosis) as compared to the placebo group and also at assessment four weeks after the last EMLA-session. However, at assessment 8-11 months after the first EMLA-treatment there was no difference between the groups. CONLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that repeated cutaneous forearm anaesthesia over a two week period can enhance the effects of sensory re-education at least over the four following weeks. However, the optimal time protocol for EMLA-treatment, aiming at a long-lasting or permanent effect on sensory recovery still has to be defined.}},
  author       = {{Lundborg, Göran and Bjorkman, A and Rosén, Birgitta}},
  issn         = {{0065-1419}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{121--126}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Acta Neurochirurgica. Supplementum}},
  title        = {{Enhanced sensory relearning after nerve repair by using repeated forearm anaesthesia: aspects on time dynamics of treatment}},
  volume       = {{100}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}