Effects of performing microsurgery on fine motor skills and sensation of the hand

Abstract

Training can help improve both the sensory and motor functions because of neuroplasticity of the nervous system. A study on the improvement of fine motor and sensory functions of the hand in microsurgery has not been found in the available literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in sensory and motor abilities caused by exposure to microsurgery. Surgeons were divided into two groups: The group of microsurgeons (MS) and the group of surgeons not performing microsurgery (NMS). The MS group was also divided into two groups: MS –J (junior microsurgeon), who have been performing microsurgery for less than 15 years, and MS –S (senior microsurgeon), who have been performing microsurgery for 15 years or more. Age, sex, dominant hand, presence of concomitant diseases, and hobbies of each surgeon were recorded. The Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, the 9-hole peg test, and the McKinnon static 2-point discrimination tests were performed on all surgeons. The static 2-point discrimination tests on the index and ring fingers of the MS group were found to be statistically better than those of the NMS group (p < 0.05). When comparing the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, the results of the thumb, index, ring and little fingers in the MS -J group were significantly better than those of the MS -S group. Although microsurgery improves sensation in the second and fourth fingers, this is more evident among younger microsurgeons.