Understanding hand dryness variability after ETS surgery requires recognizing several key factors that influence patient outcomes. The degree of dryness experienced can fluctuate based on environmental conditions, stress levels, and individual healing responses. Some patients notice their hands become slightly more moist during humid weather or periods of physical activity, while maintaining the primary benefit of reduced excessive sweating.
Variations in the anatomy of the sympathetic chain can happen among different patients as well as within the same person. This means that the patient, after having ETS, can experience at times dampness or mild sweating at different times of the year, but the overall dryness of the hands is kept.
As far as we know, the reason for that stems from the fact that the original cells of the sympathetic chain are within the spinal cord. Very few anatomical studies have been done on spinal cords of patients with hyperhidrosis to come to any definite explanation for those clinical changes in the amount of dryness in their hands.
Patients should monitor these changes and discuss any concerns with their surgeon to ensure optimal long-term results.