The Effect of Hydrodissection for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral entrapment neuropathy with involving compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. Rather than other progressive disease, CTS is characterized by remission and recurrence. The hydrodissection could decrease the entrapment of nerve to restore blood supply. Despite the hydrodissection was pervasively used in clinical practice, current researches contain small participant without control group or randomized leading to foreseeable selection bias. The investigators design a randomized, double-blind, controlled trail to assess the effect after ultrasound-guided hydrodissection in patients with CTS.

After obtaining written informed consent, patients with bilateral CTS will been randomized into intervention and control group. Participants in intervention group received one-dose ultrasound-guided hydrodissection and control side received one-dose ultrasound-guided injection at subcutaneous layer beyond carpal tunnel. No additional treatment after injection through the study period. The primary outcome is visual analog scale (VAS) and secondary outcomes include Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ), cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve, sensory nerve conduction velocity of the median nerve, and finger pinch strength. The evaluation was performed pretreatment as well as on the 2nd week, 1st, 2nd and 3rd month after the treatment.

Change from baseline of severity of symptoms and functional status on 2nd week, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th month after injection

Boston carpal tunnel syndrome questionnaire (BCTQ) is a frequently used patient-based questionnaire for measurement of CTS which encompasses two components. In total, 11 questions and 8 items were evaluated to rate the symptom severity scale (SSS) and functional status scale (FSS), respectively. Both subscales range from 1 to 5 with a higher score indicating a higher degree of disability. The mean of total SSS and FSS divided with each item score were used for further analysis.

Digital pain severity or paresthesia/dysthesia was evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS). Pain score scale ranged from 0 to 10, with 10 indicating the most severe pain.

Change from baseline of cross-sectional area of the median nerve on 2nd week, 1st, 2nd and 3rd month after injection

Using the musculoskeletal sonogram to measure the cross-sectional area of the median nerve before treatment and multiple time frame after treatment.

Change from baseline of conduction velocity, amplitude of median nerve on 2nd week, 1st, 2nd and 3rd month after injection

Antidromic sensory nerve conduction velocity of the median nerve before treatment and multiple time frame after treatment.

The finger pinch strength was measured using dynamometer (Fabrication Enterprises Inc., USA). The subject was seated with shoulder adducted and neutrally rotated with the elbow flexed at 90°. The forearm and wrist were positioned in a neutral position for the palmar pinch

Inclusion Criteria: Age between 20-80 year-old. Diagnosis was confirmed using an electrophysiological study Exclusion Criteria: Cancer Coagulopathy Pregnancy Inflammation status Cervical radiculopathy Polyneuropathy, brachial plexopathy Thoracic outlet syndrome Previously undergone wrist surgery or steroid injection for CTS

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