J Korean Soc Surg Hand.  2011 Mar;16(1):18-22.

The Effects of Partial Wrist Denervation on Chronic Wrist Pain

• Lee HJ
• Park KH
• Kim PT

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate analgesic benefit, patient satisfaction, range of motion and grip power of the patients after partial wrist denervation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 12 patients with chronic wrist pain treated with partial denervation. Mean age of the patients was 65 years. The leading cause of the pain was Kienbock's disease (7 cases). Berger's partial denervation technique was used, in which distal branches of the anterior and posterior interosseous nerve were resected through dorsal longitudinal incision. We recorded visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, and range of motion and grip power for functional evaluation.
RESULTS
Preoperative VAS for pain decreased from a mean of 6.1 to 1.5 during early postoperative period and 2.3 at the final follow-up (p<0.01). Flexion-extension and grip power improved significantly after surgery. All the patients could return to their daily activity. Ten patients (83%) showed satisfaction.
CONCLUSION
It seems that partial denervation for chronic pain of the wrist is an easy technique that can provide satisfactory pain relief with preserving the wrist motion.

Keyword

Wrist; Chronic pain; Partial denervation

MeSH Terms

Chronic Pain
Denervation
Follow-Up Studies
Hand Strength
Humans
Medical Records
Osteonecrosis
Patient Satisfaction
Postoperative Period
Range of Motion, Articular
Retrospective Studies
Wrist