Ultrasound-guided perineural vs. peritendinous corticosteroid injections in carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Hydrodissection for the Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

Ultrasound-guided nerve hydrodissection has emerged as a potential non-surgical treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The objective of this research was to offer suggestions for optimizing injectables utilized in hydrodissection for the treatment of CTS through a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched through April 25, 2024. Effect sizes were quantified using standard mean differences within a random-effects model. Effectiveness ranking for each treatment was expressed as the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA).

RESULTS

Nine studies with 458 patients with CTS were included. According to SUCRA, 5% dextrose (DW) was the most effective option for the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) function at 99.9, 89.8, and 88.8 at 4, 12, and 24 weeks, respectively; for BCTQ symptoms, 5% DW was the most effective option at 99.9 at 4 weeks and platelet-rich plasma at 95.7 and 93.9 at 12 and 24 weeks, respectively. In terms of both BCTQ symptoms and BCTQ function, the 5 cc injection was the most effective, with SUCRA values of 99.5 for both categories. However, the effectiveness of the electrodiagnostic assessment and ultrasound variables was dependent on the type and dose of medication.

CONCLUSION

Administration of 5% DW showed better results in terms of initial symptom relief and long-term functional recovery compared to other agents, while platelet-rich plasma showed greater long-term symptom improvement; an injection dose of 5 cc showed the greatest benefit. However, additional research is required to establish precise protocols based on disease severity.

Safety and Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Perineural Hydrodissection as a Minimally Invasive Treatment in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Ultrasound-guided perineural hydrodissection (HD) is a novel technique that has been found to be effective in providing mechanical release of perineural adhesions and decompression of the nerve, reducing inflammation and edema and restoring its physiological function. It has a significant impact on chronic neuropathic pain (20 ± 4 weeks with VAS < 5 or VAS diminished by 2 points after the procedure). Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common entrapment mononeuropathy, and its distribution is typically innervated by the median nerve. Patients with mild or moderate CTS may benefit from nonsurgical treatments or conservative therapies. This review was conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement guidelines. Four investigators assessed each title, abstract, and full-text article for eligibility, with disagreements being resolved by consensus with two experienced investigators. The qualitative assessment of the studies was carried out using the modified Oxford quality scoring system, also known as the modified Jadad score. Furthermore, risk of possible biases was assessed using the Cochrane collaboration tool. The results of this review suggest that US-guided HD is an innovative, effective, well-tolerated, and safe technique (11 out of 923 patients had collateral or side effects after the procedure). However, further studies comparing all drugs and with a larger sample population are required to determine the most effective substance.

Ultrasound-Guided Interventions for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral entrapment, and recently, ultrasound-guided perineural injection (UPIT) and percutaneous flexor retinaculum release (UPCTR) have been utilized to treat CTS. However, no systematic review or meta-analysis has included both intervention types of ultrasound-guided interventions for CTS. Therefore, we performed this review using four databases (i.e., PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane) to evaluate the quality of evidence, effectiveness, and safety of the published studies on ultrasound-guided interventions in CTS. Among sixty studies selected for systemic review, 20 randomized treatment comparison or controlled studies were included in six meta-analyses. Steroid UPIT with ultrasound guidance outperformed that with landmark guidance. UPIT with higher-dose steroids outperformed that with lower-dose steroids. UPIT with 5% dextrose in water (D5W) outperformed control injection and hydrodissection with high-volume D5W was superior to that with low-volume D5W. UPIT with platelet-rich plasma outperformed various control treatments. UPCTR outperformed open surgery in terms of symptom improvement but not functional improvement. No serious adverse events were reported in the studies reviewed. The findings suggest that both UPIT and UPCTR may provide clinically important benefits and appear safe. Further treatment comparison studies are required to determine comparative therapeutic efficacy.

Ultrasound-Guided Triamcinolone Acetonide Hydrodissection for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Despite the wide use of corticosteroid hydrodissection for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), there is insufficient evidence to confirm its efficacy. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of corticosteroid hydrodissection vs. corticosteroid perineural injection alone on clinical and electrophysiological parameters in patients with CTS. Method: This prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in a tertiary care center with a follow-up period of 12 weeks. Subjects were randomly assigned to either ultrasound-guided hydrodissection with a mixture of 1 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/mL), 1 mL of 2% lidocaine, and 8 mL normal saline or ultrasound-guided perineural injection with 1 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL) and 1 mL of 2% lidocaine. The primary outcome measure was the symptom severity subscale (SSS) of Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) scores at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks' post-treatment. The secondary outcomes included the functional status subscale (FSS) of BCTQ and the distal motor latency and sensory nerve conduction velocity of the median nerve. The effect of interventions on the designated outcome was analyzed using a 3 × 2 repeated measures analysis of variance. The within-subject and among-subject factors were differences in time (before the intervention, and 6 and 12 weeks after injection) and intervention types (with or without hydrodissection), respectively. Results: Sixty-four patients diagnosed with CTS were enrolled. Both groups experienced improvement in the SSS and FSS of BCTQ and median nerve distal motor latency and sensory nerve conduction velocity. However, group-by-time interactions were not significant in any outcome measurements. No serious adverse events were reported in either group, except for two patients in the hydrodissection group who reported minor post-injection pain on the first day after the intervention, which resolved spontaneously without the need for additional treatments. Conclusion: Hydrodissection did not provide an additional benefit compared to corticosteroid perineural injection alone. More prospective studies are needed to investigate the long-term effectiveness of corticosteroid hydrodissection, as well as its influence on median nerve mobility.