Author
Lermusiaux et al. (2001)
Foucher et al. (2003)
Van Rijssen et al. (2006)
Pess et al. (2012)
Hurst et al. (2009)
PNF
PNF
PNF
PNF
CCH
SAE
Tendon injury
0.01%
0.6%
Pulley injury
CRPS
0.5 %
0.3 %
Nerve injury
0.5 %
0.1 %
AE
Skin fissures
2 %
10 %
48 %
3 %
Temporary dysaesthesia
0.8 %
3 %
7 %
1 %
Pain
0.3 %
6 %
Injection site pain
32 %
Upper extremity pain
31 %
Infection
0.2 %
Haematoma
0.2 %
Oedema
0.5 %
72 %
Bleeding
0.5 %
Contusion
51 %
Injection site haemorrhage
37 %
Injection site swelling
21 %
Tenderness
27 %
Ecchymosis
25 %
Pruritus
16 %
Skin laceration
11 %
Lymph node affection
21 %
Erythema
6 %
Blister
5 %
Others
24 %
20.2.5 Aftercare and Discomfort
Following PNF, the treated area is covered with a small bandage that can be removed by the patient within a day, after which almost all activities can be resumed. If a skin fissure has occurred, a Band-Aid may be needed a bit longer. Splints are not used routinely by everybody. Pain after PNF is rare.
Hands treated with CCH in the initial studies have been immobilized in a bulky dressing until cord release. Thereafter a removable splint was fitted. With increased experience these measures have not been found necessary to obtain a good result. Hands are usually swollen and painful for a number of days and patients return to normal activities after 4 days (Warwick et al. 2015). Axillary lymphadenopathy can occur and be painful for a few days too.
20.2.6 Time Off Work
After PNF as well as after CCH treatment, the general advice to patients is to refrain from heavy labour until 2 weeks after treatment (Pess et al. 2012). Exact figures about time to return to work are not available.
20.3 Outcome of Both Procedures
20.3.1 Early Outcome (Table 20.2)
Table 20.2
Comparison of early outcome
