Platelet‐rich plasma ultrasound‐guided injection in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A placebo‐controlled clinical study

• Published in: Journal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. e1480 - e1488
• Main Authors: Malahias, Michael‐Alexander, Nikolaou, Vasileios S., Johnson, Elizabeth O., Kaseta, Maria‐Kyriaki, Kazas, Sotirios‐Tsambikos, Babis, George C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Hindawi Limited 01.03.2018
• Subjects: biologic treatment; Carpal tunnel syndrome; clinical placebo‐controlled study; Injection; Overuse injuries; Pain; Patients; Platelets; platelet‐rich plasma; Regenerative medicine; Success; Tissue engineering; Ultrasound; ultrasound guided; carpal tunnel syndrome; biologic treatment; clinical placebo-controlled study; platelet-rich plasma; ultrasound guided
• ISSN: 1932-6254; 1932-7005
• DOI: 10.1002/term.2566

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate whether and to what extent a single injection of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP), under ultrasound guidance, can improve the clinical symptoms of patients with a mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We conducted a prospective, randomized, clinical study including 50 patients suffering from mild to moderate CTS for a minimum duration of 3 months. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group A (26 patients) received an ultrasound‐guided PRP injection into the carpal tunnel, whereas Group B (24 patients) was injected with placebo (0.9% normal saline). The short‐ and mid‐term outcomes were determined with the use of the Q‐DASH questionnaire and the pain scale VAS administered at 0, 4, and 12 weeks follow‐up. The success ratio was determined by the difference in the Q‐DASH obtained pre‐injection minus the final Q‐DASH obtained after 12 weeks follow‐up. Success was defined as a difference more than 25%. Group A patients demonstrated a 76.9% success as determined by the difference Q‐DASH, whereas Group B patients demonstrated 33.3% success, which was significantly less than Group A (Χ2, p = .011). The findings of this study suggest that a single PRP ultrasound‐guided injection has positive effects in patients with CTS.