Effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on different severities of carpal tunnel syndrome

Abstract

Background

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome worldwide.

Objective

The current work aimed at determining the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on different severities of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Subjects and methods

Sixty patients with unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome were participated in this study. They were divided into three equal groups according to severity (mild, moderate, and severe). All patients received shock wave therapy one session per week, for 6 weeks. Nerve conduction studies (NCs) were done for the median nerve. Pinch dynamometer was used to measure the degree of lateral pinch power, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to assess degree of pain and Ultrasonography analysis measured cross-sectional area (CSA) of median nerve for all patients at the beginning and at the end of the study.

Results

There was significant improvement (P < 0.05) in sensory conduction parameters, CSA, lateral pinch power, and VAS after shock wave therapy in all groups. Also, there was significant improvement in motor latency, motor, and sensory amplitudes after shock wave therapy in mild and moderate groups only (P < 0.05). In all group samples, results revealed a highly significant correlations (p < 0.001) between peak sensory latency (PSL) with VAS, CSA with motor latency (ML), CSA with PSL, CSA with VAS, CSA with lateral pinch, and ML with lateral pinch.

Conclusion

It is recommended to use ESWT as a conservative treatment in patients with different severities of CTS, except patients with severe motor affection.

Trial registration

PACTR201804003293116. Registered on 26 April 2018 as retrospective registration in the pan African clinical trial registry (www.pactr.org).