Long-Term Outcomes after Surgical Treatment of Radial Sensory Nerve Neuromas: Patient-Reported Outcomes and Rate of Secondary Surgery

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to (1) describe long-term patient-reported outcomes of surgically treated symptomatic radial sensory nerve neuromas on function, pain interference, pain intensity, and satisfaction; (2) assess which factors were associated with worse function, higher pain intensity, and more pain interference; and (3) describe the secondary surgery rate and factors associated with secondary surgery.

METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective review of patients surgically treated for radial sensory nerve neuroma from 2002 to 2016 (n = 54). Twenty-five of these 54 patients completed a follow-up survey including the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) upper extremity, pain interference, and depression scales; numerical rating scale pain and satisfaction instruments; and the global rating scale of change, at a mean period of 10.7 ± 4.3 years after neuroma surgery.

RESULTS: The mean PROMIS scores were 45.0 ± 12.1 for upper extremity, 55.5 ± 10.3 for pain interference, and 49.9 ± 10.2 for depression, and were within 1 SD of the general population. Eight patients (32 percent) reported symptoms as unchanged or worse following neuroma surgery. The median numerical rating scale pain was 3 (interquartile range, 1 to 6) and the global rating scale of change satisfaction was 10 (interquartile range, 7 to 10). Older patients (p = 0.002) and patients with higher PROMIS pain interference (p < 0.001), higher numerical rating scale for pain (p = 0.012), and lower global rating scale of change scores (p = 0.01) had worse PROMIS upper extremity scores. The secondary surgery rate was 20 percent and was associated with the presence of multiple neuromas (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Radial sensory nerve neuromas remain difficult to treat. They have a high secondary surgery rate (20 percent), with only 68 percent of patients reporting improvement after surgical intervention. Patient-reported outcomes after surgery are similar to conditions of the general population; however, the range of outcomes is wide.