Mechanical wrist traction as a non-invasive treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Long-Term Follow-Up Results of Mechanical Wrist Traction as Non-Invasive Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Background: For patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), the only long-term effective treatment option is carpal tunnel release surgery. Up to one-third report recurrent symptoms, and 12% needs repeated surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of mechanical traction as a non-invasive treatment option for CTS compared to care as usual.

Methods: Patients with electrodiagnostically confirmed CTS [N = 181; mean age, 58.1 (13.0) years; 67% women] were recruited from an outpatient neurology clinic in the Netherlands. Patients completed baseline questionnaires and randomized to the intervention group (12 treatments with mechanical traction, twice a week for 6 weeks) or care as usual. The primary clinical outcome measure was surgery during the 12-month follow-up. Secondly, we assessed symptom severity with the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up. Changes in CTS symptom severity between baseline and the 12-month follow-up were analyzed between groups using t-tests and a multiple linear regression analyses, adjusting for duration of complaints, age, gender, and symptom severity at baseline.

Results: At the 12-month follow-up, 35 of 94 (37%) patients in the intervention group had surgery, compared to 38 of 87 (44%) in the care-as-usual group (χ12 = 0.78, p = 0.377). Symptom severity and functional status scores did not significantly differ between the intervention (n = 81) and care-as-usual group (n = 55) at follow-up. For patients who did not have surgery, BCTQ scores decreased significantly more from baseline to the 12-month follow-up in the intervention group (n = 53) compared to patients in the care-as-usual group (n = 25). For patients who did not have surgery, belonging to the intervention group and a higher BCTQ score at baseline were related to a greater decrease in BCTQ scores from baseline to the 12-month follow-up, as well as symptom severity and functional status.

Conclusions: Mechanical traction is effective in reducing symptom severity compared to current conservative treatment options in standard care and can therefore benefit the large number of patients that prefer conservative treatment for CTS.

Clinical Trial Registration: Clinical Trials NL44692.008.13. Registered 19 September 2013, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01949493

Neuropathy and pregnancy: An overview

Peripheral nerve injuries are rare in pregnant women. Nevertheless, physiological changes linked to pregnancy may induce nerve lesion. In this review we propose to focus on peripheral nerve disorders the most frequently encountered in pregnant patients. Focal neuropathy or polyneuropathy may appear during pregnancy or at delivery. In other cases, pre-existing neuropathies may deteriorate during pregnancy. In addition to clinical description, we summarised management proposed in the literature.

The comparison of limited-incision versus standard-incision in treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common compressive neuropathy of the median nerve. Compared with standard release, the efficacy, safety, and postoperative complications of limited carpal tunnel release remain controversial. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of the 2 treatments.

METHODS

The English-language literature was searched using MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase. Randomized controlled trials that compared standard and limited incision for carpal tunnel release were included in the meta-analysis. Strength, interval to return to activities, the rate of adverse events, effectiveness, and operative time were compared.

RESULTS

Thirteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) containing 1020 patients were included. Limited incision treated patients showed better early recovery of grip strength (mean difference [MD], 4.25 [0.86-7.65]; P = .01) and pinch strength (MD, 1.37 [0.24-2.51]; P = .02) but no advantage after more than 6 months. Patients treated with limited incision showed an earlier return to activities (MD,-8.80 [-9.21 to -8.39]; P < .01) and reduced operative time (standardized mean difference [SMD], -1.68 [-3.24 to-0.12]; P = .04). The rate of adverse event was significantly higher in standard group compared with that in limited group (risk ratio [RR] 0.61, 95% CI 0.38-0.96, P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

Limited incision release allows us to return to activities early, reduces operative time, decreases rate of adverse events, and improves strength during the early postoperative period. Results at 6 months or longer are similar according to current data. However, the results of this meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution due to heterogeneity amongst the included studies.