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Corticosteroid injection in patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Author(s) -
vanVeen Kiril E.B.,
Alblas Kees C L.,
Alons Imanda M.E.,
Kerklaan Joost P.,
Siegersma Marry C.,
Wesstein Michel,
Visser Leo H.,
vankasteel Viviane,
Jellema Korné
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.24551
Subject(s) - medicine , placebo , corticosteroid , methylprednisolone acetate , anesthesia , randomized controlled trial , methylprednisolone , ulnar neuropathy , elbow , lidocaine , placebo controlled study , ultrasound , surgery , ulnar nerve , double blind , alternative medicine , pathology , radiology
We conducted a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial to evaluate the effect of ultrasound‐guided corticosteroid injection in patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). Methods Fifty‐five patients were randomized between an ultrasound‐guided injection of 1 ml containing 40 mg methylprednisolone acetate and 10 mg lidocaine hydrochloride or a placebo injection. The primary outcome was the subjective change of symptoms after 3 months. The secondary outcomes were change in electrodiagnostic studies and ultrasonography findings. Results A success rate of 30% was found in the corticosteroid injection group versus 28% in the placebo injection group. Only the nerve cross‐sectional area changed significantly in the intervention group, from a mean of 11.9 mm 2 to 10.9 mm 2 . Conclusions We could not demonstrate a positive effect of ultrasound‐guided corticosteroid injection in UNE compared with placebo. Favorable outcomes may be attributed to the natural course of UNE or the effect of patient education. Muscle Nerve 52:380–385, 2015