Effectiveness of local corticosteroids in carpal tunnel syndrome

ABSTRACT

Carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS] is one of the most common entrapment peripheral neuropathy manifested by signs and symptoms of irritation of the median nerve at the level of the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Carpaltunnel syndrome has been treated by local corticosteroid injection but its effectiveness remains unknown in our set up. To assess the effectiveness of 40 mg methylprednisolone with 10 mg lignocaine injection proximal to the carpal tunnel in patients with the carpal tunnel syndrome. Descriptive Cross Sectional Study. This study was done at Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from February, 2012 to February, 2013. This study comprised of 32 patients. Local steroid injection consisting of 10 mg lignocaine and 40 mg methyl prednisolone was injected at the volar aspect of the forearm close and proximal to the carpal tunnel. The effectiveness was determined in terms of decrease in at least one base line grade of pain and numbness at affected hand during 4 and 12 weeks follow up. There were 4 [12.50%] males and 28 [87.50%] females with mean age of male and female was 30.75 +/- 6.23 and 33.42 +/- 7.07 respectively. In patients with severe pain, the effectiveness was 90.90% and 100% at 4 and 12 weeks respectively. Among the patients with mild numbness, the success rate was 83.33% and 91.67% at 4 and 12 weeks respectively while in case of moderate numbness, the effectiveness was 100% at 4 and 12 weeks follow up in patients. A local single injection of steroids in carpal tunnel syndrome is effective in relieving pain and numbness in short terms