Local Steroid Injection vs Placebo in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Summary

Between 2008 and 2012 the investigators performed a single-center randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of local injection of two different doses of methylprednisolone (80 mg and 40 mg) in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), aged 18 to 70 years, not previously treated with steroid injection. The primary outcomes were change in the CTS symptom severity score at 10 weeks and rate of carpal tunnel release surgery on the study hand at 1 year. In the trial 111 patients were randomized (37 in each of the 3 groups: 80 mg methylprednisolone, 40 mg methylprednisolone and placebo) and all completed the 1-year follow-up. The investiators plan an extended follow-up 5 to 7 years after injection.

Timeline

Start

2016-02

Primary completion

2016-10

Completion

2016-10

Publications

• Results 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.
• 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.

Drugs

Indications