Abstract
Objective. To compare the results of splinting and surgery in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Design. Randomised. Method. Patients with clinically and electrophysiologically confirmed idiopathic CTS were recruited by neurologists in 13 hospitals in the Netherlands. One hundred and seventy-six patients were included in the trial and were randomly allocated to either wrist splinting (n = 89) or open surgery (n = 87). The primary outcome measures were: perceived improvement, number of nights waking up due to symptoms, and severity of symptoms. Outcomes were assessed up to 18 months after randomisation. Intention-to-treat analyses were performed. Results. In the surgery group there were 21 men and 66 women, with an average age of 49 years (SD: II), and in the splint group there were 12 men and 77 women with an average age of 49 (SD: 12). After 3, 6, 12 and 18 months, surgery was more effective than splinting on all outcome measures. Success rates, based on perceived improvement, were 79% (62/78) for the surgery group and 53% (46/86) for the splint group after 3 months (difference: 26%; 95% CI: 12-40), and 90% (61/68) and 75% (59/79), respectively, after 18 months (difference: 15%; 95% CI: 3-27). However, by that time 32/79 patients (41%) in the splint group had also undergone surgery. Conclusion. Surgery resulted in greater clinical effects compared to splinting in patients with CTS.
| Translated title of the contribution | Greater clinical effects on carpal tunnel syndrome with surgery than with splinting; results of a randomised clinical trial |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Pages (from-to) | 2153-2156 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde |
| Volume | 146 |
| Issue number | 45 |
| Publication status | Published - 9 Nov 2002 |