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Improved sensory relearning after nerve repair induced by selective temporary anaesthesia - a new concept in hand rehabilitation.

Rosén, Birgitta LU ; Björkman, Anders LU and Lundborg, Göran LU (2006) In Journal of Hand Surgery (British Volume) 31B. p.126-132
Abstract
The outcome after nerve repair in adults is generally poor. We hypothesized that forearm deafferentation would enhance the sensory outcome by increasing the cortical hand representation. A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was designed to investigate the effects of cutaneous forearm anaesthesia combined with sensory re-education on the outcome after ulnar or median nerve repair. During a 2 week period, a local anaesthetic cream (EMLA (R)) (n = 7) or placebo (n = 6) was applied repeatedly onto the flexor aspect of the forearm of the injured arm and combined with sensory re-education. Evaluation of sensory function was carried out at regular intervals and at 4 weeks after the last EMLA (R)/placebo session. The EMLA (R) group showed... (More)
The outcome after nerve repair in adults is generally poor. We hypothesized that forearm deafferentation would enhance the sensory outcome by increasing the cortical hand representation. A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was designed to investigate the effects of cutaneous forearm anaesthesia combined with sensory re-education on the outcome after ulnar or median nerve repair. During a 2 week period, a local anaesthetic cream (EMLA (R)) (n = 7) or placebo (n = 6) was applied repeatedly onto the flexor aspect of the forearm of the injured arm and combined with sensory re-education. Evaluation of sensory function was carried out at regular intervals and at 4 weeks after the last EMLA (R)/placebo session. The EMLA (R) group showed significant improvement compared to placebo in perception of touch/pressure, tactile gnosis and in the summarized outcome after 6 weeks. These results suggest that cutaneous forearm anaesthesia of the injured limb, in combination with sensory re-education, can enhance sensory recovery after nerve repair. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
hand function, nerve injury, sensory relearning, anaesthesia
in
Journal of Hand Surgery (British Volume)
volume
31B
pages
126 - 132
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • wos:000236257400001
  • pmid:16352379
  • scopus:32644473177
ISSN
0266-7681
DOI
10.1016/j.jhsb.2005.10.017
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: Reconstructive Surgery (013240300), Hand Surgery Research Group (013241910)
id
0f21a30a-f2ea-4a56-862e-a92e0dc9d90e (old id 148722)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16352379&dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:15:42
date last changed
2025-10-14 12:11:00
@article{0f21a30a-f2ea-4a56-862e-a92e0dc9d90e,
  abstract     = {{The outcome after nerve repair in adults is generally poor. We hypothesized that forearm deafferentation would enhance the sensory outcome by increasing the cortical hand representation. A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was designed to investigate the effects of cutaneous forearm anaesthesia combined with sensory re-education on the outcome after ulnar or median nerve repair. During a 2 week period, a local anaesthetic cream (EMLA (R)) (n = 7) or placebo (n = 6) was applied repeatedly onto the flexor aspect of the forearm of the injured arm and combined with sensory re-education. Evaluation of sensory function was carried out at regular intervals and at 4 weeks after the last EMLA (R)/placebo session. The EMLA (R) group showed significant improvement compared to placebo in perception of touch/pressure, tactile gnosis and in the summarized outcome after 6 weeks. These results suggest that cutaneous forearm anaesthesia of the injured limb, in combination with sensory re-education, can enhance sensory recovery after nerve repair.}},
  author       = {{Rosén, Birgitta and Björkman, Anders and Lundborg, Göran}},
  issn         = {{0266-7681}},
  keywords     = {{hand function; nerve injury; sensory relearning; anaesthesia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{126--132}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Journal of Hand Surgery (British Volume)}},
  title        = {{Improved sensory relearning after nerve repair induced by selective temporary anaesthesia - a new concept in hand rehabilitation.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsb.2005.10.017}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jhsb.2005.10.017}},
  volume       = {{31B}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}