title: Single vs. two steroid injections for carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomised clinical trial.
abstract: We investigated the efficacy of a single vs. double steroid injections in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in a randomised double-blind controlled trial. Patients with idiopathic CTS were randomised into (i) one group receiving a baseline methylprednisolone acetate injection plus a saline injection 8 weeks later and (ii) a second group receiving methylprednisolone acetate injection at baseline and at 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the Global Symptom Score (GSS). Forty patients were recruited. By 40 weeks, the mean GSS improved from 25.6 to 14.1 in the single-injection group whereas from 26.7 to 12.6 in the reinjection group, but there was no significant difference in GSS between the two groups (p = 0.26). There were also no significant differences in terms of electrophysiological and functional outcomes. The results suggest that an additional steroid injection confers no added benefit to a single injection in terms of symptom relief.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: A C F
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008775:Methylprednisolone