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- Title
Splinting vs Surgery in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
- Authors
Gerritsen, Annette A. M.; de Vet, Henrica C. W.; Scholten, Rob J. P. M.; Bertelsmann, Frits W.; de Krom, Marc C. T. F. M.; Bouter, Lex M.
- Abstract
Context: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can be treated with nonsurgical or surgical options. However, there is no consensus on the most effective method of treatment. Objective: To compare the short-term and long-term efficacy of splinting and surgery for relieving the symptoms of CTS. Design, Setting, and Patients: A randomized controlled trial conducted from October 1998 to April 2000 at 13 neurological outpatient clinics in the Netherlands. A total of 176 patients with clinically and electrophysiologically confirmed idiopathic CTS were assigned to wrist splinting during the night for at least 6 weeks (89 patients) or open carpal tunnel release (87 patients); 147 patients (84%) completed the final follow-up assessment 18 months after randomization. Main Outcome Measures: General improvement, number of nights waking up due to symptoms, and severity of symptoms. Results: In the intention-to-treat analyses, surgery was more effective than splinting on all outcome measures. The success rates (based on general improvement) after 3 months were 80% for the surgery group (62/78 patients) vs 54% for the splinting group (46/86 patients), which is a difference of 26% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12%-40%; P<.001). After 18 months, the success rates increased to 90% for the surgery group (61/68 patients) vs 75% for the splinting group (59/79 patients), which is a difference of 15% (95% CI, 3%-27%; P = .02). However, by that time 41% of patients (32/79) in the splint group had also received the surgery treatment. Conclusion: Treatment with open carpal tunnel release surgery resulted in better outcomes than treatment with wrist splinting for patients with CTS.
- Subjects
CARPAL tunnel syndrome treatment; WRIST surgery; SPLINTS (Surgery); WOUND care
- Publication
JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, 2002, Vol 288, Issue 10, p1245
- ISSN
0098-7484
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1001/jama.288.10.1245