Paoloni M, Tavernese E, Cacchio A, D'orazi V, Ioppolo F, Fini M, Santilli V, Mangone M
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy -
Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2015 Oct;51(5):521-8. Epub 2015 Feb 20.
Ultrasound (US) therapy improves symptoms in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) uses acoustic energy to determine its clinical effects, as US-therapy does.
The aim of this study was to compare the short-term efficacy of US and ESWT on mild and moderate CTS.
Randomized controlled trial.
University outpatient service.
Twenty-five patients with mild to moderate CTS, for a total of 42 wrists.
patients were randomized to receive US, cryo-US or ESWT, and were evaluated for pain and function before treatment started, at the end of treatment, and four and 12 weeks after the end of the treatment.
Significant improvement was noted in all groups for pain (P<0.05) and functionality (P<0.05). Patients in ESWT group show greater pain improvement at 12-weeks follow-up when compared with both US and cryo-US groups (P<0.05).
Patients affected by CTS might benefit from the application of US, cryo-US or ESWT. Benefits persist 3 months after the end of treatment.
Clinicians might consider the possibility of a short-term non-surgical management for mild-to-moderate CTS.
超声（US）治疗可改善腕管综合征（CTS）患者的症状。体外冲击波疗法（ESWT）与US治疗一样，利用声能来确定其临床效果。
本研究旨在比较US和ESWT对轻、中度CTS的短期疗效。
随机对照试验。
大学门诊服务机构。
25例轻至中度CTS患者，共42只手腕。
将患者随机分为接受US、冷冻超声或ESWT治疗组，并在治疗开始前、治疗结束时以及治疗结束后4周和12周对疼痛和功能进行评估。
所有组在疼痛（P<0.05）和功能（P<0.05）方面均有显著改善。与US组和冷冻超声组相比，ESWT组患者在12周随访时疼痛改善更明显（P<0.05）。
CTS患者可能从US、冷冻超声或ESWT治疗中获益。治疗结束后3个月仍有疗效。
临床医生可考虑对轻至中度CTS进行短期非手术治疗的可能性。
