Department of Pain Medicine, Health Sciences University Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, General Dr. Tevfik Sağlam Cd. No. 1, 06010, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey.
Department of Pain Medicine, Usak University Training and Research Hospital, Fevzi Çakmak, Gazi Blv. Yanyolu No. 50, 64300, Usak, Merkez, Turkey.
Ir J Med Sci. 2022 Dec;191(6):2751-2757. doi: 10.1007/s11845-022-02923-0. Epub 2022 Jan 17.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most widespread form of nerve entrapment neuropathy results from increase compression pressure of the median nerve at the wrist under the transverse carpal ligament.
To compare ultrasound (US)-guided median nerve steroid injection and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) on pain intensity, functional status, and patient satisfaction in the treatment of CTS.
A total of 90 hands of 59 patients who underwent steroid injection at the level of proximal carpal tunnel or PRF for CTS were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. The pain severity was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), and the functional status and clinical outcomes were assessed using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) before the procedure and at Week 1, Month 1, and Month 3 after the procedure. Time to pain relief was evaluated at week 1. Patient satisfaction was evaluated at Month 3.
There was no significant difference in the NRS and BCTQ scores between the two treatment methods (p > 0.05 for both). In addition, a significant decrease in the NRS and BCTQ scores were detected at all follow-ups compared to baseline in treatment groups (p < 0.001). The mean time to pain relief was significantly shorter in the PRF group (p < 0.001). Patient satisfaction was similar at Month 3 between the treatment methods (p > 0.05).
Our study results suggest that both US-guided steroid injection to the median nerve and PRF are effective and safe methods in the short-term in the treatment of CTS.
腕管综合征（CTS）是最常见的神经卡压性神经病，由正中神经在腕管横韧带下受压引起。
比较超声引导下正中神经类固醇注射与脉冲射频（PRF）治疗腕管综合征的疼痛强度、功能状态和患者满意度。
回顾性分析了 59 例 90 只手因 CTS 行近端腕管类固醇注射或 PRF 的患者。记录患者的人口统计学和临床特征。使用数字评分量表（NRS）评估疼痛严重程度，使用波士顿腕管问卷（BCTQ）评估功能状态和临床结果，分别在治疗前、治疗后 1 周、1 个月和 3 个月进行评估。在第 1 周评估疼痛缓解时间。在第 3 个月评估患者满意度。
两种治疗方法的 NRS 和 BCTQ 评分无显著差异（均为 p>0.05）。此外，与治疗前相比，两组在所有随访中 NRS 和 BCTQ 评分均显著降低（均为 p<0.001）。PRF 组疼痛缓解时间明显缩短（p<0.001）。治疗后 3 个月时，两种治疗方法的患者满意度相似（p>0.05）。
我们的研究结果表明，超声引导下正中神经类固醇注射和 PRF 都是治疗 CTS 的有效且安全的短期方法。
