title: Six-month efficacy of platelet-rich plasma for carpal tunnel syndrome: A prospective randomized, single-blind controlled trial.
abstract: Recently, a few small reports with short follow-up period have shown clinical benefits of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for peripheral neuropathy including one pilot study and one small, non-randomized trial in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Therefore, we conducted a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial to assess the 6-month effect of PRP in patients with CTS. Sixty patients with unilateral mild-to-moderate CTS were randomized into two groups of 30, namely the PRP and control groups. In the PRP group, patients were injected with one dose of 3 mL of PRP using ultrasound guidance and the control group received a night splint through the study period. The primary outcome measure was the visual analog scale (VAS) and secondary outcome measures included the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) score, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve (MN), electrophysiological findings of the MN, and finger pinch strength. The evaluation was performed before treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-injection. The PRP group exhibited a significant reduction in the VAS score, BCTQ score, and CSA of MN compared to the those of control group 6 months post-treatment (p < 0.05). Our study demonstrates that PRP is a safe modality that effectively relieves pain and improves disability in the patients with CTS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Integrated Pain Management Center, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yung-Tsan
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tsung-Yen
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, No. 161, Sec. 6, Minquan East Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming-Jen
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.|Integrated Pain Management Center, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tsung-Ying
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guo-Shu
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Sec. 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu District, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. clctsgh@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Liang-Cheng
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*