Innovations in the Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Review of Clinical Trials with an Emphasis on the Last 5 Years

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a highly prevalent entrapment neuropathy. This project is designed as a literature review that focuses on different treatment modalities in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Around 20 clinical studies were included in this review. The Results showed that treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome can be broadly classified as either conservative or operative. Commonly employed conservative treatment options the include use of wrist splinting, hand physiotherapy, corticosteroid injections, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, acupuncture, platelet-rich plasma therapy, enzyme therapy etc. Surgical intervention is achieved with carpal tunnel release surgery either performed as an open procedure or with endoscopic assistance. Both conservative and invasive methods are efficacious and are associated with good patient prognosis. However, surgery is mostly opted when there is no significant response towards initial conservative therapy.