Hyaluronic Acid Injection in Idiopathic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; is it Effective as Local Corticosteroids

Summary

This study compares the effectiveness of two types of local injections-Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and corticosteroids-for treating mild to moderate idiopathic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Sixty adult patients will be assigned to receive one of the two injections under ultrasound guidance. The goal is to see if HA is as effective as the standard corticosteroid treatment in improving symptoms and nerve function over a 3-month follow-up period.

Timeline

Start

2026-02

Primary completion

2026-08

Completion

2026-09

Publications

• Background Senna MK, Shaat RM, Ali AAA. Platelet-rich plasma in treatment of patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. Clin Rheumatol. 2019 Dec;38(12):3643-3654. doi: 10.1007/s10067-019-04719-7. Epub 2019 Aug 16.
• Background Jiang J, Xing F, Luo R, Liu M. Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and meta-Analysis of Current Evidence in Randomized Controlled Trials. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Apr 27;13:834213. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.834213. eCollection 2022.
• Background Malahias MA, Nikolaou VS, Johnson EO, Kaseta MK, Kazas ST, Babis GC. Platelet-rich plasma ultrasound-guided injection in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A placebo-controlled clinical study. J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2018 Mar;12(3):e1480-e1488. doi: 10.1002/term.2566. Epub 2017 Dec 17.
• Background Cansever U, Koldas Dogan S, Erdem Toslak I, Bilgilisoy Filiz M, Toraman NF. Comparison of the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection and steroid injection in patients with bilateral moderate carpal tunnel syndrome: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Injury. 2026 Mar;57(3):113018. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2026.113018. Epub 2026 Jan 9.
• Background Hong P, Zheng Y, Rai S, Ding Y, Zhou Y, Liu R, Li J. Efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A network meta-analysis of different injection treatments. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Nov 10;13:906075. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.906075. eCollection 2022.
• Background Buntragulpoontawee M, Chang KV, Vitoonpong T, Pornjaksawan S, Kitisak K, Saokaew S, Kanchanasurakit S. The Effectiveness and Safety of Commonly Used Injectates for Ultrasound-Guided Hydrodissection Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Entrapment Syndromes: A Systematic Review. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Mar 5;11:621150. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.621150. eCollection 2020.
• Background Senlikci HB, Afsar SI, Cosar SN, Kurtcebe AN, Ozen S, Yemisci OU. The effectiveness of single-dose blinded platelet-rich plasma (PRP) vs. corticosteroid injection in mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome: A prospective, randomized, double blind study. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2025 Jun;42:995-1001. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2025.01.057. Epub 2025 Jan 31.
• Background Lin CP, Chang KV, Huang YK, Wu WT, Ozcakar L. Regenerative Injections Including 5% Dextrose and Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2020 Mar 18;13(3):49. doi: 10.3390/ph13030049.
• Background Wu YT, Ke MJ, Ho TY, Li TY, Shen YP, Chen LC. Randomized double-blinded clinical trial of 5% dextrose versus triamcinolone injection for carpal tunnel syndrome patients. Ann Neurol. 2018 Oct;84(4):601-610. doi: 10.1002/ana.25332. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

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Indications