Comparison of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and Local Corticosteroid Injection Effectiveness in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy and local corticosteroid injection on pain, function, and nerve conduction studies in the treatment of idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome.

DESIGN

A total of 72 patients who were diagnosed as having carpal tunnel syndrome were included in the study. The radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy group received radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy, the local corticosteroid injection group received local corticosteroid injection, and the control group only used a resting hand splint. The patients were evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale-pain, a Visual Analog Scale-numbness, the Boston Symptom Severity Scale, the Boston Functional Status Scale, and handgrip strength tests before treatment 1 and 12 wks after the treatment.

RESULTS

Both clinical and nerve conduction study parameters improved with all three groups, and this effect continued at the 12th-week follow-up of the patients. The Visual Analog Scale-pain, Visual Analog Scale-numbness, Boston Symptom Severity Scale, and Boston Functional Status Scale scores in the first week after the treatment, as well as Visual Analog Scale-pain and Boston Functional Status Scale scores in the 12th week after the treatment, were significantly lower in the local corticosteroid injection group compared with the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed the success of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy, splint, and local corticosteroid injection, but symptom relief was greater in the first week and 12th week with local corticosteroid injection.