Does the Dominant Hand Factor Have an Effect on Postoperative Improvement in the Surgical Treatment of Ulnar Nerve Entrapment?

Abstract

Objectives: Ulnar nerve entrapment is the most frequently encountered entrapment neuropathy after the carpal tünelsyndrome. Surgical treatment is usually suggested to patients who do not benefit from conservative treatment. In thisstudy, we aimed to examine the effect of the dominant hand on the clinical results of ulnar nerve decompression surgery.Methods: 48 (25 D, 23 N-D) patients were included in the study. The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory was used toidentify the dominant hand of patients included in the study. Visual analogue scale (VAS) values were evaluated preand postoperatively.Results: 25 patients underwent surgery on the dominant hand and 23 patients had surgery to their non-dominanthand. The VAS values of patients who underwent non-dominant hand surgery were lower than those who underwentsurgery on the dominant hand.Conclusion: In our study, the recovery time of patients operated on the dominant side due to ulnar nerve compressionwas longer than the patients operated on the non-dominant side. In our opinion, exercise and protection programs fordominant hands in the postoperative period of ulnar nerve entrapment surgery, in addition to a good surgical technique, positively affects the results of surgical treatment.