Ultrasound therapy effect in carpal tunnel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the overall effect of repeated ultrasound treatment in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

DESIGN

Patient-blinded, placebo-controlled, before-after treatment trial.

SETTING

University hospital PM&R department outpatient clinic and neurology department electromyography laboratory.

PATIENTS

Eighteen women with diagnosis of CTS in 30 hands.

INTERVENTIONS

Three groups, each with 10 cases of CTS, were randomly established. Continuous ultrasound therapy, with intensities of 1.5W/cm2 (group A), 0.8W/cm2 (group B), and 0.0W/cm2 (group C), was applied to palmar carpal tunnel area for 5 minutes, 5 days a week, for 2 weeks.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Patients were evaluated clinically and electrophysiologically before and after the treatment.

RESULTS

At the end of treatment, statistically significant improvement was obtained in clinical parameters in all groups: pain (p < .05), pain/paresthesia at night/day (p < .05), and frequency of awakening at night (p < .05). Although there was no statistically significant before-after difference in electrophysiologic studies, slightly decreased motor nerve conduction velocity and increased motor distal latency were noted in groups A and B, but not in group C.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound therapy in CTS was comparable to placebo ultrasound in providing symptomatic relief, and the probability of a negative effect on motor nerve conduction needs to be considered.