Steroid Injection Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Summary

The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of injecting steroid into the carpal tunnel in relieving symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome for at least 1 year with outcomes measured with patient evaluated symptoms score.Out of the patients referred by primary care, those with a clinical diagnosis of CTS who have tried wrist splint and whose symptom severity is judged by the examining surgeon to warrant surgery are offered to be put on the waiting list for carpal tunnel release. This means a waiting time of approximately 3 months. Patients who give informed consent will be asked to attend the outpatient clinic for a physical examination followed by allocation to one of the three trial groups. Immediately following the allocation the patients will receive the assigned treatment.

Timeline

Start

2008-11

Primary completion

2012-04

Completion

2012-04

Publications

• Background Atroshi I, Gummesson C, Johnsson R, Ornstein E, Ranstam J, Rosen I. Prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in a general population. JAMA. 1999 Jul 14;282(2):153-8. doi: 10.1001/jama.282.2.153.
• Background Atroshi I, Gummesson C, Johnsson R, McCabe SJ, Ornstein E. Severe carpal tunnel syndrome potentially needing surgical treatment in a general population. J Hand Surg Am. 2003 Jul;28(4):639-44. doi: 10.1016/s0363-5023(03)00148-5.
• Background Wintman BI, Winters SC, Gelberman RH, Katz JN. Carpal tunnel release. Correlations with preoperative symptomatology. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1996 May;(326):135-45.
• Background Ahlberg J, Johansson H, Widenfalk B. [Disabling injuries following carpal tunnel syndrome surgery]. Lakartidningen. 2007 Oct 3-9;104(40):2884-6. No abstract available. Swedish.
• Background Benson LS, Bare AA, Nagle DJ, Harder VS, Williams CS, Visotsky JL. Complications of endoscopic and open carpal tunnel release. Arthroscopy. 2006 Sep;22(9):919-24, 924.e1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2006.05.008.
• Background Marshall S, Tardif G, Ashworth N. Local corticosteroid injection for carpal tunnel syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Apr 18;2007(2):CD001554. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001554.pub2.
• Hofer M, Ranstam J, Atroshi I. Extended Follow-up of Local Steroid Injection for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Oct 1;4(10):e2130753. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.30753.
• Atroshi I, Flondell M, Hofer M, Ranstam J. Methylprednisolone injections for the carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 2013 Sep 3;159(5):309-17. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-159-5-201309030-00004.
• Flondell M, Hofer M, Bjork J, Atroshi I. Local steroid injection for moderately severe idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome: protocol of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial (NCT 00806871). BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2010 Apr 21;11:76. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-76.

Drugs

Indications