Comparison of Splinting plus Local Steroid Injection, and Splinting plus Ultrasound and Low-level Laser Therapy Outcomes in Idiopathic Mild to Moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

摘要

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common compression neuropathy. Its management is based on relieving the pressure on the median nerve with various conservative and surgical treatment methods. Objective: Compare the effectiveness of splinting, therapeutic ultra-sound, and low-level laser therapy, and splinting and local steroid injection, to the outcome of patients with idiopathic CTS. Methods: Ninety-eight hands with idiopathic CTS were evaluated clinically and electrophysiologically at baseline and three months after treatment with either splinting, therapeutic ultra-sound, and low-level laser therapy, or splinting and local steroid injection. Results: Patients with mild to moderate CTS, of both treatment groups, significantly improved clinically and electrophysiologically at the end of the third month compared to baseline. Conclusion: Both treatment options are effective in short-term management of mild and moderate cases of idiopathic CTS. [Egypt J Neurol Psychiat Neurosurg.  2014; 51(4): 451-458]