The assesment of pain and hand functions of patients with anterior cervical disc surgery [Anterior servikal disk cerrahisi geçiren hastalarda aǧri{dotless} ve el fonksiyonlari{dotless}ni{dotless}n deǧerlendirilmesi]

Objectives: the aim of the study is to evaluate the pain and hand functions of patients undergoing anterior cervical disc surgery and to compare with those of healthy controls. methods: 22 people with anterior cervical disc surgery and 30 healthy people were taken into study. visual analog scale and pressure pain threshold were used to assess the pain intensity. in assessing hand skill the nine-hole peg test was used,and hand strength was measured by hand dynamometer. measurements were done presurgery and at postoperative 6th month. results: compared to the preoperative values,measurements at the 6th month were significantly improved for pressure pain threshold,hand strength and dexterity values,and pain intensity (p<0.05). except for pressure pain threshold values on the right levator scapulae,no significant difference was found between the operated patients and healthy controls in all measurements at the postoperative 6th month (p>0.05). conclusions: anterior cervical disc surgery was found to decrease pain intensity and to increase pressure pain thresholds significantly,while improving hand dexterity,hand strength. however,some degree of insufficiency in terms of pain were stil persisting at the postoperative 6th month.