| Reference |
Symptoms <= 3 months |
Symptoms > 3 months |
Return to work / ADL |
Complications |
| Knifelight versus OCTR |
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| Bhattacharya 2004 |
Symptom relief after 6 weeks: Knifelight 17/26 (65%); OCTR 19/26 (73%). |
Not assessed. |
Median no. of weeks (range): Knifelight 2 (0‐6); OCTR 2 (0‐6) (P = 0.8). |
Scar tenderness: Knifelight 8/26 (31%); OCTR 17/26 (65%). Postoperative numbness after Knifelight (1) |
| Helm 2003 |
After 6 weeks: symptoms cured 36/39 (Knifelight) vs 37/43 (standard); none or mild scar tenderness 35/39 vs 21/43. |
Not assessed. |
Significant difference in time to return to work (20 vs 28 days). |
1 sympathetic reflex dystrophy, 2 conversions to OCTR (presumably analysed in the OCTR group), 1 superficial wound infection and 1 transient numbness of index finger after Knifelight. 1 partial wound dehiscence, 4 pillar pain, 1 unexplained thumb pain, 1 mild stiffness of fingers and 1 transient numbness of index finger after standard OCTR. |
| Knifelight versus OCTR (limited open) |
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| Cellocco 2005 |
Not assessed. |
Follow up 19 months (range 12 to 28 months): mean symptom severity score (Levine) 1.46 (Knifelight) versus 2.04 (OCTR limited open) (P < 0.001); mean functional status score (Levine) 2.02 (Knifelight) versus 2.53 (OCTR limited open) (P < 0.001). Follow up 30 months (range 24‐42 months): mean symptom severity score (Levine) 1.28 (Knifelight) versus 1.39 (OCTR limited open) (NS); mean functional status score (Levine) 1.87 (Knifelight) versus 1.73 (OCTR limited open) (NS). |
Mean no. of days: Knifelight 16.6 (range 15 to 18); OCTR (limited open) 25.4 (range 23 to 29). |
Recurrents disease Knifelight 5% vs OCTR (limited open) <1%. |
