The effectiveness of corticosteroid injection versus night splints for carpal tunnel syndrome: 24-month follow-up of a randomized trial
Authors' conclusion
Over 24 months, surgical intervention rates were low in both groups, but less frequent in the NS group. While there were no differences in the clinical effectiveness of CSI and NS, initial treatment with CSI may not be cost-effective in the long-term compared with NS.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), initial management24-month response 73% corticosteroid injection (CSI), 71% night splinting (NS)
- Participants
- 116 vs 118
- Comparison
- Local corticosteroid injection vs night splint worn for 6 weeks
- CSIn = 116
- NSn = 118reference
- Primary endpoint
- Symptoms, resource use and carpal tunnel surgery (BCTQ, hand/wrist pain NRS, referral for and undergoing CTS surgery, healthcare utilisation)
- Follow-up
- 24 months
Methodological details24-month follow-up, 1:1 randomisation, cost-utility analysis
- 24-month follow-up
- 1:1 randomisation
- Cost-utility analysis
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Underwent CTS surgery
Further findings
Referred for CTS surgery · 24 months
| Outcome | Mean difference (£) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Costs · 24 monthsCSI more costly | 68.59 (−120.84 to 291.24) | |
| −2000200400Difference, £ (linear scale) |
| Outcome | Mean difference (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality-adjusted life-years · 24 monthsFewer QALYs with CSI | −0.022 (−0.093 to 0.045) | |
| −0.1−0.0500.05Difference (linear scale) |
Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) score and pain numeric rating scale (NRS) · 12 and 24 months
- No statistically significant between-group differences
Original publication
The effectiveness of corticosteroid injection versus night splints for carpal tunnel syndrome: 24-month follow-up of a randomized trial. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 8 April 2022. doi:10.
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