Six-month Efficacy of Perineural Dextrose for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: To assess the 6-month effectiveness of ultrasound-guided perineural injection therapy (PIT) using 5% dextrose (D5W) in patients with mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Patients and methods: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind study was conducted between May 1, 2016, through March 30, 2017. A total of 49 participants diagnosed with mild-to-moderate CTS were randomized into D5W and control groups. Participants in the D5W group received 1 session of ultrasound-guided PIT with 5 cc of D5W, and the control group received PIT with normal saline. The visual analog scale measured pain as a primary outcome. Secondary outcomes were Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire scores, the cross-sectional area of the median nerve, and electrophysiological measurement results. Assessment was performed before injection and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-injection.

Results: All patients (data from 30 wrists in each group) completed the study. Compared with the control group, at all post-injection time points, the D5W group had a significant reduction in pain and disability, improvement on electrophysiological response measures, and decreased cross-sectional area of the median nerve.

Conclusion: Our study reveals that ultrasound-guided PIT with D5W is an effective treatment for patients with mild-to-moderate CTS.

Trial registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02809261.