Pinch and grip strength recovery following ambulatory carpal tunnel release under local anaesthesia.

Aim: This study was conducted to compare pinch and grip strength of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome undergoing release to normative values preoperatively and postoperatively. Methods: Clinical data collected on grip and pinch strength of 50 hands with carpal tunnel syndrome was compared to appropriately matched normative data. Results: There were definite improvements in strength after 4 weeks of postsurgical release and some subjects continued to have significant deficits compared to the normative data. Conclusion: Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome have moderate to large weakness in grip and pinch strength in comparison to normative data. Carpal Tunnel Release may reduce this weakness; however, carpal tunnel syndrome patients may often have with residual problems at 4 weeks and may take up to 1 year to resolve completely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]