The numb arm and hand.

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Abstract

[Indexed for MEDLINE] 5. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2020 Nov;45(9):899-903. doi: 10.1177/1753193420931478. Epub 2020 Jun 15. Postoperative follow-up time and justification in prospective hand surgery research: a systematic review. Hooper RC(1), Nasser JS(2), Huetteman HE(3), Mack SJ(1), Chung KC(1). Author information: (1)Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. (2)George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA. (3)Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI, USA. We systematically reviewed prospective studies for five hand procedures to analyse postoperative follow-up time, clinical or radiographic plateau, and whether the authors provide justification for times used. Demographic data, outcomes and mean follow-up were analysed. A total of 188 articles met our inclusion criteria. The mean postoperative follow-up time among these studies were carpal tunnel release, 21 months (range 1.5-111); cubital tunnel release, 27 months (2.5-46); open reduction and internal fixation for the distal radius fracture, 24 months (3-120); thumb carpometacarpal joint arthroplasty, 64 months (8.5-228); and flexor tendon repair, 25 months (3-59). Authors provided justification for follow-up intervals in 10% of these reports. We conclude that most prospective clinical studies in hand surgery do not properly justify follow-up length. Clinically unnecessary follow-up is costly without much benefit. In prospective research, we believe justified postoperative follow-up is essential, based on expected time to detect clinical plateau, capture complications and determine the need for secondary surgery.Level of evidence: III. DOI: 10.1177/1753193420931478