Abstract
This retrospective study was carried out to clarify the preventive effect of neutral positioning of both arms on upper extremity neuropathy after gynecological laparoscopic surgery compared with right arm abduction positioning. In 93 cases of right arm abduction positioning >90°, with the left arm tucked in at the side, postoperative right hand numbness occurred in 6 cases (6.5%). In these 6 cases, symptoms disappeared in 4 cases after postoperative day (POD) 1, in 1 case after POD 21, and in the remaining case after POD 41. In 81 cases where both arms were in the neutral position tucked in at the sides with shoulder braces applied, upper extremity numbness was not experienced in any cases; however, shoulder pain developed in 4 cases (4.9%) and was thought to be related to using the shoulder braces. The pain disappeared in 2 cases after POD 1, in 1 case after POD 2, and in the remaining case after POD 3. In right arm abduction positioning without the use of shoulder braces, shoulder pain was not experienced in any cases. Neutral positioning of both arms in gynecological laparoscopic surgical patients was effective for the prevention of upper extremity neuropathy, but measures to alleviate the onset of shoulder pain after change in positioning need to be addressed in the future.
