The Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Tri-Service General Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Treatments: Device: Shock wave

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02218229

TSGHIRB: 1-102-05-122

Details and patient eligibility

About

The shock wave is a new and potential intervention for the reinnervation of peripheral nerve. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on carpal tunnel syndrome.

Full description

Recently, many studies show the potential effect of shock wave for the reinnervation for peripheral neuropathy in the animal mode. Only one study reveal the potential benefit of shock wave in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Althouh its expressive finding, the number of cases is relatively too small to make a conclusive remark. Large and well-designed study would expand the new field.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Outpatient subjects who had typical symptoms and signs of CTS, such as positive Tinel's sign or Phalen's test and numbness/tingling in at least two of the first, second, and third digits and were all confirmed by electrophysiological study, were considered and enrolled.

Exclusion criteria

The patients who had conditions mimicking CTS, such as cervical radiculopathy, polyneuropathy, brachial plexopathy, thoracic outlet syndrome or who had previous wrist surgery or steroid injection for CTS, were all excluded.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Shock waves

Experimental group

Description:

Shock waves are defined a sequence of acoustic pulse characterized by a high peak pressure (100 MPa), fast pressure rise (\< 10 ns) and short duration (10 μs). Different studies and clinical experiments have demonstrated the efficacy of shock waves in the treatment of musculoskeletal system such as chronic tendinopathies or hypertrophic pseudoarthrosis.

Treatment:

Device: Shock wave

Night splint

No Intervention group

Description:

The wrist night splint was firmly fixed in a neutral position to immobilize the affected wrist. Patients were ordered to wear the splint while resting at night and at least 8 hours per day during the period of study