Objective: To analyse perceived impairments, disability, job restrictions and job changes in subjects with a neurapraxia and neurotmesis of the ulnar nerve five years after trauma. Design: Retrospective, descriptive follow-up study. Setting: Department of Rehabilitation of a University Hospital. Subjects: Sixteen subjects with a neurotmesis (NT-group) and 20 subjects with a neurapraxia (NP-group) were compared by means of a structured interview assessing perceived impairments and change in job and a questionnaire assessing disabilities (Groningen Activity Restriction Scale: GARS). Results: The NP-group perceived significantly more pain, loss of strength and sensation, loss of dexterity and perceived more job-related restrictions than the NT-group. The NP-group had significantly higher scores on the GARS. There was a moderate correlation between the visual analogue score of the pain and the GARS in the NP- and NT-groups. No significant difference was found between the groups with respect to job changes. Conclusions: This study shows that subjects with a neurapraxia of the ulnar nerve perceive more impairments and disabilities compared with those subjects with a neurotmesis.
[1]
F Guillemin,et al.
The Groningen Activity Restriction Scale for measuring disability: its utility in international comparisons.
,
1994,
American journal of public health.
[2]
L. T. de Jager,et al.
The Functional Results of Ulnar Nerve Repair
,
1994
.
[3]
M. Vastamäki,et al.
The Results of Secondary Microsurgical Repair of Ulnar Nerve Injury
,
1993,
Journal of hand surgery.
[4]
D. Kline,et al.
Indications for peripheral nerve and brachial plexus surgery.
,
1992,
Neurologic clinics.
[5]
G. Parry.
Electrodiagnostic studies in the evaluation of peripheral nerve and brachial plexus injuries.
,
1992,
Neurologic clinics.
[6]
D. Marsh.
The validation of measures of outcome following suture of divided peripheral nerves supplying the hand.
,
1990,
Journal of hand surgery.
[7]
G. J. Romanes,et al.
Current Problems of Lower Vertebrate Phylogeny.
,
1969
.
[8]
H. Seddon.
A Classification of Nerve Injuries
,
1942
.