Article

In this study, the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound-guided
corticosteroid injection "above" versus "below" the median nerve for treatment of
patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome was compared. DESIGN: This
prospective randomized double-blind clinical trial included 44 patients with mild
to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome. The subjects were randomly assigned to two
groups to receive ultrasound-guided injection of 40 mg of triamcinolone either
"above" or "below" the involved median nerve. Outcome measures were the Boston
Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, visual analog scale, electrophysiological tests, and
ultrasonographic measurement of the median nerve cross-sectional area at
baseline, 6, and 12 wks after the injection. RESULTS: All outcome measures
improved significantly in both groups at 6 wks after intervention, and these
improvements were persevered up to 12 wks of follow-up (all P values <0.05).
However, there was no significant difference in measured outcomes between the two
groups. No adverse effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Both above and under
median nerve ultrasound-guided steroid injection techniques were effective in
reducing the symptoms, improving the function, and improving electrodiagnostic
and sonographic findings of carpal tunnel syndrome. However, the amount of
improvement in the outcomes did not differ between groups, implying that none of
technique has the superiority over another.

Langue : ANGLAIS