Quality of life of carpal tunnel syndrome with non operative treatment: cohort study

ABSTRACT

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral neuropathy entrapment and it interferes with the quality of life. Treatment for CTS can be divided into operative and non-operative treatment. Our objective was to compare the quality of life and pain intensity in a patient with CTS after oral treatment and local corticosteroid injection (LCI).Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 18-65 years patients with CTS. Primary outcome was to compare the quality of life post oral treatment (NSAIDs, oral steroids, gabapentin) and LCI using the Short Form-36 questionnaire. Secondary output was to compare pain intensity using Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Mann-Whitney and independent t-test were used to assess the comparison between the treatment.Results: Sixty CTS patients were included in this study, with 32 patients (53.33%) assigned to LCI. After observation one month, statistical analysis showed that LCI improved the quality of life better than oral in physical function and bodily pain components (p = 0.036 and p = 0.047). Injection treatment decreased pain intensity more than oral not statistically significant after 14 days (p=0.087), but was significant after one month (p=0.002).Conclusions: Local corticosteroid injection improved quality of life and decreased pain intensity better than oral treatment after one month.