Effectiveness of the Influence of Physical Therapy on the Indicators of the Neurological and Functional Status of the Hand in People with Compression Neuropathy of the Median Nerve as a Postimmobilization Complication of Fractures of the Distal Forearm Bo
Authors:   Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University. 57, Shevchenko St., Ivano-Frankivsk 76018, Ukraine, Byrchak V. M. 
Published: February 2021

The social inconsistency of patients with hand injuries is due to the limitation of the possibilities of professional and labor activity (reduced qualifications, limited opportunities for training and retraining, inability to work in their specialty), which justifies the search for new methods of their rehabilitation. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of physical therapy on the indicators of the neurological and functional status of the hand in patients with compression neuropathy of the median nerve as a postimmobilization complication of fractures of the distal forearm bones. Material and methods. The study involved 56 people with postimmobilization contractures of the wrist joint, complicated by compression neuropathy of the median nerve, as a result of fracture of the bones of the distal forearm. They were divided into two groups: the control group (they practiced according to the principles of polyclinic rehabilitation with a predominance of passive means like manual techniques, preformed physical factors) and the main group (they were engaged in a developed physical therapy program based on the principles of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health with a predominance of active means like functional training; massage; warm wet compress combined with post-isometric muscle relaxation, posture treatment; kinesiological taping). The effectiveness of the program was assessed by the presence and degree of pain (VAS and DN4), goniometry results, signs of median nerve irritation (Phalen, Hoffmann-Tinel, Durkan), French Arm Test, ABILIHAND, DASH, Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire. Results and discussion. After the rehabilitation intervention, all examined patients showed a decrease in the intensity of pain at rest and during movement (according to VAS). Signs of compression neuropathy of the median nerve decreased (pain intensity according to the DN4 questionnaire, the prevalence of specific symptoms, the results of a quantitative assessment of the Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire). There was an improvement in the functioning of the upper limb according to the ABILIHAND, DASH, French Arm Test scales. For all the studied parameters, the patients of both groups showed a statistically significantly better result compared to the initial data (p <0.05). However, the patients of the main group showed a better result than the patients of the control group (p <0.05). Conclusion. The developed program of physical therapy with the predominant using of active rehabilitation means revealed a statistically significant better effect on the indicators of the neurological and functional status of the hand in persons with compression neuropathy of the median nerve as a postimmobilization complication of fractures of the distal forearm bones