MedPath

Clinical Outcomes of USCTR vs. mOCTR

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Carpal Tunnel
Interventions
Device: USCTR
Procedure: mOCTR
Registration Number
NCT04504019
Lead Sponsor
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Brief Summary

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral entrapment neuropathy and affects 3-6% of adults in the United States. In patients with severe or refractory symptoms, carpal tunnel release (CTR) represents the definitive management option, and over 550,000 CTRs are performed annually in the United States with over 90% of patients reporting clinical improvement. Currently available CTR techniques include mini-open CTR via a single, 1-3 cm palmar incision (mOCTR), endoscopic CTR via one (wrist) or two (wrist and palm) 1-2 cm incisions (ECTR), and ultrasound guided CTR via a single \< 1 cm wrist or palmar incision (USCTR). The primary objective is to assess the impact of USCTR vs mOCTR in a military population. This study is a multi-site prospective randomized comparative trial.

Participants with CTS will be randomized to a study arm and receive treatment with ultrasound guided carpal tunnel release (USCTR) vs. traditional mini-open carpal tunnel release (mOCTR). All patients will be followed for a period of 24 months with respect to standard clinical data, military relevant data, and validated patient related outcome measures (PROMs). Data will be collected at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, and 24 months post-CTR procedure.

Investigators hypothesize that USCTR using the SX-One MicroKnife®, also known as UltraGuideCTR, will safely and more-effectively improve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome compared to traditional mOCTR, with less loss of military duty days.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
41
Inclusion Criteria
  • Adults age ≥18 years
  • DEERS Eligible
  • Fluent in speaking, reading, and understanding English
  • Clinical diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
  • Candidate for surgical CTR based on severe and/or refractory symptoms
  • Confirmatory electrodiagnostic test indicating median neuropathy at the wrist (abnormal findings)
  • Ultrasound findings consistent with median nerve enlargement in the carpal tunnel
Read More
Exclusion Criteria
  • Previous carpal tunnel release or previous wrist surgery on the ipsilateral side
  • Carpal tunnel injection with corticosteroid within 6 weeks prior to anticipated study procedure
  • Previous traumatic injury to the median nerve or any of its branches on the ipsilateral side
  • History of medical condition that would preclude safe participation in study procedures (e. g. complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), upper limb vascular disease (including thoracic outlet syndrome), Raynaud's phenomenon, etc.)
  • Inability to stop anticoagulation medications (Plavix, Coumadin/Warfarin, Xarelto), or unable to be bridged with Lovenox
  • Unable to understand and provide written informed consent
  • Contraindication to proceeding with USCTR based on diagnostic ultrasound (i.e. identification of anomalous anatomic structures such as transligamentous thenar motor branch or space occupying lesions within the carpal tunnel)
  • Electrodiagnostic evaluation of the carpal tunnel which indicates normal findings
Read More

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
USCTR ProcedureUSCTRParticipants will undergo the USCTR procedure with SX-One MicroKnife®, also known as UltraGuideCTR
mOCTR ProceduremOCTRParticipants will undergo the traditional mOCTR procedure.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Measure the effect of USCTR vs mOCTR on the longitudinal change in QuickDASH.Change from baseline to 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months post CTR procedure

QuickDash is a region-specific PROM consisting of 11 items measuring the difficulty in performing physical activities relevant to shoulder, arm or hand function. Each item is scored on a scale of 1-5 and a final score of 0 to 100 is calculated, with higher scores representing greater degrees of upper extremity disability (0 points indicate no disability and 100 points indicates maximum disability).

Incision length in cmAt time of procedure, measured as day 0

On the day the participant receives their study assigned procedure (USCTR vs. mOCTR), clinical team will record incision length in cm

Measure the effect of USCTR vs mOCTR on the longitudinal change in BCTQ-S.Change from baseline to 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months post CTR procedure

The BCTQ is a PROM for CTS and is the most commonly used outcome measure for CTS. Each item on the 11-item symptom severity scale (BCTQ-S) is graded from 1 (mildest) to 5 (most severe). Outcomes are typically recorded as a mean score.

Change in military work status as assessed using single-item self-report assessmentCaptured at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months post CTR procedure

Participants will complete a questionnaire to depict when normal work or daily activities commenced.

Change in self-reported satisfaction as assessed using a satisfaction rating scaleCaptured at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months post CTR procedure

Participants will rate satisfaction with the following: completely dissatisfied, mostly dissatisfied, somewhat satisfied, neither satisfied or dissatisfied, somewhat satisfied, mostly satisfied, or completely satisfied.

Completely dissatisfied with represent the lowest score, and completely satisfied will represent the highest score.

Change in self-reported pain as assessed using the 11-item Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) participant pain levels over 1 month following the CTR procedure.Captured at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 1 month post CTR procedure

The 11-item NRS scale is a unidimensional measure of pain intensity. It is a segmented numeric version of the visual analog scale in which participants will select a whole number (0-10 integers) that best reflects the intensity of their pain. The scale ranges from '0' representing one pain extreme (e.g. no pain) to '10' representing the other pain extreme (e.g. worst possible pain).

Change in self-reported pain as assessed using the 11-item Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)At time of procedure, measured as day 0

Using the 11-item Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), compare the distributions of participant self-reported pain at both pre- and immediately -post CTR procedure between the USCTR and mOCTR groups.

The 11-item NRS scale is a unidimensional measure of pain intensity. It is a segmented numeric version of the visual analog scale in which participants will select a whole number (0-10 integers) that best reflects the intensity of their pain. The scale ranges from '0' representing one pain extreme (e.g. no pain) to '10' representing the other pain extreme (e.g. worst possible pain).

Change in self-reported pain as assessed using the 4-item CTS Palmar Pain Scale over 1 month following CTR procedureCaptured at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 1 month post CTR procedure

The 4-item Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Palmer and Incision Pain questionnaire inquiries about severity of pain. Each item has five-six possible response options which range from 1 (no pain) to 5/6 (very severe). The symptom score is the mean of all answered items; higher scores indicate worse symptoms

Measure the effect of USCTR vs mOCTR on the longitudinal change in pinch (tip, palmar, and key) strength.Change from baseline to 3 months, and 12 months post CTR procedure

Manually tested using a pinch gauge.

Measure the effect of USCTR vs mOCTR on the longitudinal change in hand grip strength.Change from baseline to 3 months, and 12 months post CTR procedure

Manually tested using a handheld dynamometer.

Measure the impact of USCTR vs mOCTR on participant perception of change in overall physical conditionChange from 1 week to 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months post CTR procedure

Participant self reported change in physical condition. Participant will select one response from the following descriptions to rate overall condition from the time they began treatment to the designated time-point: A very great deal worse; About the same; A very great deal better; A great deal worse; A great deal better; Quite a bit worse; Quite a bit better; Moderately worse; Moderately better; Somewhat worse; Somewhat better; A little bit worse; A little bit better; A tiny bit worse(almost the same); A tiny bit better (almost the same)

Surgical time during procedure (minutes)At time of procedure, measured as day 0

On the day the participant receives their study assigned procedure (USCTR vs. mOCTR), clinical team will record surgical time to perform the procedure in minutes

Change in pain medication usage as assessed using single-item self-report assessmentCaptured at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 month, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months post CTR procedure

Participant self-reported pain medication usage. Participant will respond with responses ranging from "less than once a week', "once a week", "several times a week", "daily", "multiple times per day", "or did not use". "Did not use" will represent the minimum value, and "multiple times per day" will represent the maximum value.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

🇺🇸

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath