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14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT)

17.06. - 21.06.2019, Berlin

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Evaluation and Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

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  • presenting/speaker Cynthia Cooper - Cooper Hand Therapy, Carlsbad, California, United States

International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand. International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy. 14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT). Berlin, 17.-21.06.2019. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2020. DocIFSHT19-1132

doi: 10.3205/19ifssh1605, urn:nbn:de:0183-19ifssh16053

Published: February 6, 2020

© 2020 Cooper.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Outline

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Clinical issue/s: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) presents as sensory pain, numbness, or paresthesia. CIPN affects activities of daily living (ADL), work, play, leisure and social participation. It impacts overall function and has a profound negative effect on people's quality of life. Certain chemotherapy agents are known to cause CIPN but are necessary for best medical management. At least thirty-to-forty percent of people receiving chemotherapy experience CIPN and this figure is described by authorities as an underestimation. Some patients have to reduce or discontinue their medication due to the severity of the neuropathy.

Clinical reasoning: In the oncology literature, there are no descriptions or acknowledgments of the value of hand rehabilitation targeting the sensorimotor system for patients with CIPN. The specialty areas of hand rehabilitation and hand surgery offer a stunning body of knowledge and impressive levels of evidence that support an innovative structure-specific program to promote nerve health peripherally and centrally.

Innovative, analytical or new approach: This presentation identifies a rehabilitation program based on interventions which have been extrapolated from evidence-based treatments used to facilitate sensory recovery. The unique characteristics of CIPN will be explained. Treatment interventions including edema control, range of motion, tendon and nerve gliding, and sensory rehabilitation will be demonstrated. Examples of and resources for home program instructions and ideas will be provided.

Contribution to advancing HT practice: Hand therapists are experts in the treatment repertoire needed to promote nerve health. The pathophysiology of chemotherapy toxicity resulting in CIPN differs from the pathophysiology of our typical peripheral nerve-injured patient population. Identifying the valuable contributions of hand therapy to the oncology population will open doors to patients with needs that have not been met. It will also lead to a broader patient base and rehabilitation program growth.