Document Type : RESEARCH PAPER
Authors
1
Trauma Research Center, Department of orthopedics, Shahid Sadoughi hospital, school of medicine , Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
2
Student Research Committee, Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran.
3
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Trauma Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
4
Yazd Trauma Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
5
Student Research Committee, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
10.22038/abjs.2025.86992.3948
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the efficacy of drain use and its impact on clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction in bilateral carpal tunnel release (CTR).
Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 41 patients (82 hands) with moderate-to-severe bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) underwent open CTR in 2022. One hand was randomly assigned a Penrose drain, while the contralateral hand served as a control. The primary outcome was patient satisfaction at 16 weeks post-surgery, with secondary outcomes including pain (VAS), grip strength, wound healing, and pillar pain, which were assessed at baseline, three days, three weeks, and 16 weeks post-surgery.
Results: Wound healing (P=0.85), pain (P=0.48), pulp pinch strength (P=0.73), and pillar pain (P=0.28) showed no significant differences between groups. However, palmar grip strength showed a significant difference in improvement between groups (P=0.028), favoring the non-drain group. Satisfaction was significantly lower with drains (P<0.001), and functional status (BCTQ-FSS) improved more without drains (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Drain use in bilateral CTR provides no clinical benefit and reduces patient satisfaction, the primary outcome of this study, suggesting its routine use is unwarranted.
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