The aim of this study is to evaluate the short-term efficacy of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection in patients with and without bifid median nerve.
Twenty-five patients with bifid median nerve and twenty-five patients without bifid median nerve, aged 18-65, who applied to the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic at Beylikdüzü State Hospital, diagnosed with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome based on electrophysiological studies, and who received ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection, will be included in our study. Patients identified as having a bifid median nerve during the injection will be noted and invited for a follow-up at the 1st month to assess their pain and functional status. The same follow-up visit will be conducted for an equal number of age- and gender-matched patients without bifid median nerve who received the injection. At the end of the study, the 1-month efficacy of the injection in both groups will be evaluated. Patients who agree to participate in the study will be asked to complete the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ), and the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (Quick-DASH) before the injection. They will then be invited for a follow-up visit at the 1st month, where the VAS, BCTQ, and Quick-DASH will be administered again.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
50
No intervention
Beylikdüzü State Hospital
Istanbul, Beylikdüzü, Turkey (Türkiye)
Visual Analog Scale (VAS):
The Visual Analog Scale is a widely used tool to assess the intensity of pain. It consists of a straight line, typically 10 cm in length, where one end represents "no pain" (0) and the other end represents "worst imaginable pain" (10). Patients mark a point on the line that corresponds to their current level of pain. VAS provides a simple, quantitative measure of pain that is easy for patients to use and for clinicians to interpret, making it a reliable tool for tracking changes in pain levels over time.
Time frame: 0 day, 4th week
Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire Symptom Severity Scale (BCTQ-SSS):
The SSS assesses the severity of carpal tunnel symptoms such as pain, tingling, and numbness. The total score for this scale ranges from a minimum of 11 to a maximum of 55. A lower score indicates mild or no symptoms, while a higher score suggests more severe symptoms. As the score increases, the severity of symptoms worsens, with a score closer to 55 reflecting a significantly greater impact on daily life.
Time frame: 0 day, 4th week
Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (Quick-DASH):
The Quick-DASH is a shortened version of the full DASH questionnaire, designed to measure physical function and symptoms in people with musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb. It consists of 11 items that assess the difficulty a patient experiences in performing activities of daily living, such as carrying a heavy object, opening a jar, or using a computer. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, where higher scores reflect greater disability. The Quick-DASH is a validated, efficient tool that provides a broad overview of the patient's upper extremity function and how their condition affects daily life.
Time frame: 0 day, 4th week
Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire Functional Status Scale (BCTQ-FSS):
The FSS evaluates how carpal tunnel syndrome affects a person's ability to perform daily tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, or holding objects. The total score for this scale ranges from a minimum of 8 to a maximum of 40. A lower score suggests little to no difficulty in performing these tasks, while a higher score reflects greater functional limitations. As the FSS score increases, it indicates that the condition is having a more pronounced effect on daily functioning.
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Time frame: 0 day, 4th week