Efficacy of splinting and oral steroids in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: a prospective randomized clinical and electrophysiological study.

OBJECTIVE

To study the efficacy of splinting and oral steroids in the management of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, open-label, clinical and electrophysiological study with 3-month follow-up.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Forty patients with CTS were randomly divided into splint group (N-20), wearing splint in neutral position for 4 weeks; and steroid group (N-20), who received oral prednisolone 20 mg/day for 2 weeks followed by 10 mg/day for 2 weeks. Clinical and electrophysiological evaluations were done at baseline and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up. Independent 't' test and paired 't' test were used for statistical analysis.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measure was the symptom severity score and functional status score. Secondary outcome measures were median nerve sensory and motor distal latency and conduction velocity.

RESULTS

At the end of 3 months, statistically significant improvement was seen in symptom severity score and functional status score in both groups (P<0.001). Median nerve sensory distal latency and conduction velocity also improved significantly in both the groups at 3 months. Improvement in motor distal latency was significant (P=0.001) at 3 months in steroid group, while insignificant improvement (P=0.139) was observed in splint group. On comparing the clinical and electrophysiological improvement between the two groups, except for the functional status score, there was no significant difference at 3-month follow-up. Improvement in functional status score was significantly more in steroid group (P=0.03).

CONCLUSION

There was significant improvement in both groups, clinically as well as electrophysiologically, at 3 months. On comparing the efficacy of the two treatment methods, except for the functional status score, there was no significant difference between the two groups.