MedPath

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating Effectiveness of Ultrasound in Corticosteroid Injection

Not Applicable
Conditions
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Interventions
Device: Ultrasound
Registration Number
NCT02036125
Lead Sponsor
Université de Sherbrooke
Brief Summary

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound guided corticosteroid injection in reducing symptoms caused by carpal tunnel syndrome.

Detailed Description

Corticosteroid injection is routinely given for treating carpal tunnel syndrome. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound guided corticosteroid injection in reducing symptoms caused by carpal tunnel syndrome.

In this randomised clinical trial, 50 patients with both a clinical and electromyographic diagnosis of mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome will be recruited from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS). Subjects will be randomised to ultrasound guided or blind injection groups. All subjects will receive 40 mg of methylprednisolone. The primary outcome will be the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire - Symptom Severity Scale at baseline and 3 months post injection. Both subjects and assessors will be blinded.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • Aged 18 to 65
  • Understanding written and spoken french
  • Diagnostic of carpal tunnel syndrome : Classic of probable based on the Katz Hand Diagram and mild to moderate based on the electrodiagnosis studies
Exclusion Criteria
  • Carpal tunnel injection in the last 6 months
  • Constant symptoms in medial nerve area
  • Thenar eminence atrophy
  • Absolute contraindication to corticosteroid injection : infective arthritis, bacterial endocarditis, local cellulitis of skin infection, coagulopathy, corticosteroid or latex allergy
  • Secondary diagnosis based on the ultrasound : arthrosynovial cyst, flexor tenosynovitis, ganglion
  • Known cognitive disorder
  • Anticoagulant therapy
  • Diseases known to cause carpal tunnel syndrome : Diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, connective tissue disease, rheumatic disease and moderate or severe chronic renal impairment
  • Radiculopathy
  • Polyneuropathy
  • Pregnancy
  • Ancient ipsilateral wrist fracture
  • Ancient ipsilateral wrist surgery

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Ultrasound guided injectionUltrasoundUltrasound guided injection of 40 mg of methylprednisolone
Ultrasound guided injectionmethylprednisoloneUltrasound guided injection of 40 mg of methylprednisolone
Blind injectionmethylprednisoloneBlind injection of 40 mg of methylprednisolone
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire - Symptom Severity Scale3 months

The Boston Questionnaire is self-applied by the patient. It has a symptom severity scale and a functional status scale.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
DASH questionnaire3 months
Ultrasound measured medial nerve area in carpal tunnel3 months
Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire - Functional Status Scale3 months

The Boston Questionnaire is self-applied by the patient. It has a symptom severity scale and a functional status scale.

Numeric Pain Rating ScaleBaseline

Pain during injection

Ultrasound measured medial nerve area difference between pronator quadratus and carpal tunnel3 months
Ultrasound hypervascularisation of medial nerve in carpal tunnel3 months
Global Rating of Change3 months

The Global Rating of Change scale is meant to quantify the improvement or deterioration perceived by the patient.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke

🇨🇦

Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath