Abstract
Flexor tenosynovitis of the palm and distal forearm sometimes causes median nerve palsy, and obstruction of finger movement. Six hands of 5 patients were treated for this pathological condition with tenosynovectomy and release of the carpal tunnel and flexor retinaculum between 1998 and 2003. One patient was a 52-year-old man with bilateral tenosynovitis caused by overuse of his hands, and 4 women were from 53 to 81-years-old.
Sensory recovery was obtained in 6 weeks after surgery in cases of chronic tenosynovitis. Finger movement improved in 3 months after surgery. The grip power in the man’s case was not enough to resume the previous level of physical labor even 6 months after surgery, although the women patients regained almost full function of their hand. The follow-up periods ranged from 3 months to 1 year.
Recovery from median nerve palsy was satisfactory, but the surgical procedures of tenosynovectomy and after treatment for physical laborers requires improvement.
