A COMPARISON OF THE SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES OF LOCAL STEROID INJECTION AND LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY IN THE MODERATE CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

E. Çapkin, B. Sert, M. Karkucak, M.M. Kose, A. Karaca, M. Tosunrehabilitation and rheumatology, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, TurkeyObjectives: To compare the effectiveness of local steroid injections and low-level laser therapy in the treatment in patients with moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as measured by objective changes in nerve conduction studies. Methods: A total of sixty-five patients (90 hands) with CTS were randomly divided into three treatment groups: (1) patients treated with low-level laser (LLT) (n = 30 hands); (2) patients treated with local steroid injection (n = 30 hands) and (3) controls (n=30 hands). Groups and controls recieved non-steroid antienflamatuar drugs (NSAIDs) and were applied a splint in a neutral position. Electroneurophysiological parameters (distal motor latency and sensory nerve conduction velocities of median nerve), visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, Boston Scale symptom severity (BSSS), functional capacity (BSFC), and hand grip strength with Jamar dynmometre were assessed at the baseline and at the sixth week of the treatment. Results: In the 6th week of follow up, it was detemined that there had been a significant improvement from pre-trearment in all examined nerve conduction (p=0.001) expect for sensory nerve conduction velocities of the median nerve (p=0.101). Also, there was marked improvement in hand grip srength, VAS score, BSSS and BSFC for all groups. When groups were compared using to groups using assessment parameters, it was detected in favour of local injection group (p= 0.001). It has been determined while both symptoms and functions improved in Group 2, the improvement was that superior to that of Group 1 (p>0.05). Conclusion: This is the first study comparing local steroid enjection and LLLT in CTS. Local steroid injection is considered to be a more effective treatment in CTS management for the short-time efficiency when compared to LLLT Disclosure of Interest: None declaredCitation: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, volume 69, supplement 3, year 2010, page 287Session: Management of pain in rheumatic diseases (Poster Presentations )