Open AccessComparison of three conservative treatment protocols in carpal tunnel syndrome
Author(s) -
Baysal O.,
Altay Z.,
Ozcan C.,
Ertem K.,
Yologlu S.,
Kayhan A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
international journal of clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1742-1241
pISSN - 1368-5031
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2006.00867.x
Subject(s) - medicine , carpal tunnel syndrome , conservative treatment , ultrasound , median nerve , tendon , ultrasound treatment , surgery , carpal tunnel , combination therapy , wrist , patient satisfaction , clinical efficacy , physical therapy , radiology
Summary The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the therapeutic effect of three different combinations in the conservative treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) by means of clinical and electrophysiological studies. The combinations included tendon‐ and nerve‐gliding exercises in combination with splinting, ultrasound treatment in combination with splinting and the combination of ultrasound, splinting, tendon‐ and nerve‐gliding exercises. A total 28 female patients (56 wrists) with clinical and electrophysiologic evidence of bilateral CTS were studied. In all patient groups, the treatment combinations were significantly effective immediately and 8 weeks after the treatment. The results of the long‐term patient satisfaction questionnaire revealed that symptomatic improvement is more prominent in the group treated with splinting, exercise and ultrasound therapy combination. Our results suggest that a combination of splinting, exercise and ultrasound therapy is a preferable and an efficacious conservative type of treatment in CTS.