Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral entrapment neuropathy with involving compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. Rather than other progressive disease, CTS is characterized by remission and recurrence. Although many conservative managements of CTS, the effectiveness of these methods is insignificant or only persist for a short duration. The platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a new and potential treatment for patients with kinds of musculoskeletal disorders and recent reports showed being beneficial for peripheral neuropathy in animal studies. Since 2014, two small clinical trials showed the positive effect of PRP in peripheral neuropathy. One study shown the PRP has therapeutic effect for peripheral neuropathy in patients with leprosy. In addition, PRP having protective effect against neurological deficit of facial nerve during superficial parotidectomy. However, these studies have not entirely proved the effects of PRP on peripheral neuropathy because these studies enrolled small number of patients and lacked controlled design. In addition, the PRP was not used for treating CTS so far. The investigators design a randomized, double-blind, controlled trail to assess the effect after ultrasound-guided PRP injection in patients with CTS.
After obtaining written informed consent, patients of clinically diagnosed with CTS were randomized into intervention and control group. Participants in intervention group received one-dose ultrasound-guided PRP injection and control group received one-dose ultrasound-guided 5% dextrose injection. No additional treatment after injection through the study period. The primary outcome is visual analog scale (VAS) and secondary outcomes include Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ), cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve, sensory nerve conduction velocity of the median nerve, and finger pinch strength. The evaluation was performed pretreatment as well as on the 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th week after the treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
52
Ultrasound-guided 3cc PRP injection between proximal carpal tunnel and median nerve.
Ultrasound-guided 3cc 5% dextrose injection between proximal carpal tunnel and median nerve.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital
Taipei, Neihu District, Taiwan
Change from baseline in severity of symptoms and functional status on 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th weeks after treatment.
Boston carpal tunnel syndrome questionnaire (BCTQ) is a frequently used patient-based questionnaire for measurement of CTS which encompasses two components. In total, 11 questions and 8 items were evaluated to rate the symptom severity scale (SSS) and functional status scale (FSS), respectively. Both subscales range from 1 to 5 with a higher score indicating a higher degree of disability. The mean of total SSS and FSS divided with each item score were used for further analysis.
Time frame: Pre-treatment, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th weeks after treatment.
Change from baseline in cross-sectional area of the median nerve on 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th weeks after treatment.
Using the musculoskeletal sonogram to measure the cross-sectional area of the median nerve.
Time frame: Pre-treatment, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th weeks after treatment.
Change from baseline in conduction velocity, amplitude of median nerve on 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th weeks after treatment.
The antidromic sensory nerve conduction velocity of the median nerve was performed on all subjects according to the protocol reported by the American Academy of Neurology (USA). The median nerve was stimulated at the wrist between the palmar longus and flexor carpal radialis tendon at a distance of approximately 14 cm from the active electrode.
Time frame: Pre-treatment, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th weeks after treatment.
Change from baseline in finger pinch on 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th weeks after treatment.
The finger pinch strength was measured using dynamometer (Fabrication Enterprises Inc., USA). The subject was seated with shoulder adducted and neutrally rotated with the elbow flexed at 90°. The forearm and wrist were positioned in a neutral position for the palmar pinch
Time frame: Pre-treatment, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th weeks after treatment.
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