Abstract
Objectives: Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common type of compression neuropathy where the median nerve passes beneath the transverse carpal ligament. Regarding demographic specialities of the population, most of these patients are suffering from other hand and upper limb disorders such as trigger finger, carpometacarpal osteoartitis, hand tumors, and the other compression neuropaties. Our aim was to compare postoperative hand disability of the patients who underwent only median nerve decompression (Group A) with the patients operated for carpal tunnel syndrome and other hand disordes at the same session (Group B).
Methods: A series of 43 patients who were operated for carpal tunnel syndrome (Group A) or carpal tunnel syndrome with another hand operation at the same session (Group A) were compared pre- and postoperatively by QuickDASH questionnaire (The Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, Turkish by Hacettepe University School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation).
Results: In cases of Group A, the average DASH score dropped from 81.9 to 29.8 and pre- and postoperatively, using of patients their hands and degree of satisfaction was found to be statistically significant different (ANOVA F= 60.2, p<0.01). In cases of Group B, the average DASH score dropped from 81.9 to 34.2 and pre-and postoperatively, using of patients their hands and degree of satisfaction was found to be statistically significant different (ANOVA F=44.6, p <0.01).
Conclusion: Comparison of pre- and postoperative DASH scores between the patients who underwent only carpal tunnel surgery and the patients who underwent combined surgery was statistically insignificant different (ANOVA F=0.022, p=0.883 and F=0.471, p=0.496, respectively). In both groups, none of our patients encountered with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, because of extreme sensitivity, desensitisation treatment was applied to 4 patients.

Key words: Carpal, cubital, osteoarthritis, trigger