Comparison of pulsed radiofrequency and steroid injection in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome guided by USG imaging

Zeki Boğa; Mustafa Emre Saraç

Article Details

Comparison of pulsed radiofrequency and steroid injection in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome guided by USG imaging

Authors:

Zeki Boğa | Mustafa Emre Saraç

Publisher:

MediHealth Academy Yayıncılık

Main Topics:

Periferik Sinir Sistemi

Journal:

Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care Vol.6 Issue 4, pp.388-395

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

8/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357464

pISSN:

2717-7505

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Aims: The research evaluated the effectiveness between ultrasonography-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment and steroid injection therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods: The research included 60 patients who received carpal tunnel syndrome diagnoses. The patients received their treatment based on two distinct approaches which formed separate groups: 30 patients who underwent ultrasonography-guided injection of 40 mg methylprednisolone acetate and 30 patients who underwent ultrasonography-guided application of pulsed radiofrequency targeting the median nerve at 42C for 120 seconds. Visual Analog Scale VAS score, Boston Carpal Tunnel Scale and physical examination findings were evaluated before treatment, at 1, 3 and 6 months. All patients underwent EMG before the procedure and at 6 months. Results: At baseline, no significant variations were observed across groups regarding demographic characteristics as well as clinical parameters. At the third month, the VAS score decreased to 2.91.5 in the RF group while it was still 3.82.1 in the steroid group p0.048. Functional scores of the Boston scale were 1.60.7 in the pulsed radiofrequency group and 2.00.8 in the steroid group p0.037. In the electrophysiologic evaluation at the sixth month, motor distal latency was 3.90.7 ms in the RF group versus 4.30.8 ms in the steroid group p0.041. The rate of more than 50 improvement in VAS score was 80 in the RF group compared to 60 in the steroid group. Conclusion: Pulsed radiofrequency therapy delivers superior long-term results than steroid injection does. As a minimally invasive method, it should be evaluated before surgery.

 Aims: The research evaluated the effectiveness between ultrasonography-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment and steroid injection therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods: The research included 60 patients who received carpal tunnel syndrome diagnoses. The patients received their treatment based on two distinct approaches which formed separate groups: 30 patients who underwent ultrasonography-guided injection of 40 mg methylprednisolone acetate and 30 patients who underwent ultrasonography-guided application of pulsed radiofrequency targeting the median nerve at 42C for 120 seconds. Visual Analog Scale VAS score, Boston Carpal Tunnel Scale and physical examination findings were evaluated before treatment, at 1, 3 and 6 months. All patients underwent EMG before the procedure and at 6 months. Results: At baseline, no significant variations were observed across groups regarding demographic characteristics as well as clinical parameters. At the third month, the VAS score decreased to 2.91.5 in the RF group while it was still 3.82.1 in the steroid group p0.048. Functional scores of the Boston scale were 1.60.7 in the pulsed radiofrequency group and 2.00.8 in the steroid group p0.037. In the electrophysiologic evaluation at the sixth month, motor distal latency was 3.90.7 ms in the RF group versus 4.30.8 ms in the steroid group p0.041. The rate of more than 50 improvement in VAS score was 80 in the RF group compared to 60 in the steroid group. Conclusion: Pulsed radiofrequency therapy delivers superior long-term results than steroid injection does. As a minimally invasive method, it should be evaluated before surgery.

 Aims: The research evaluated the effectiveness between ultrasonography-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment and steroid injection therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods: The research included 60 patients who received carpal tunnel syndrome diagnoses. The patients received their treatment based on two distinct approaches which formed separate groups: 30 patients who underwent ultrasonography-guided injection of 40 mg methylprednisolone acetate and 30 patients who underwent ultrasonography-guided application of pulsed radiofrequency targeting the median nerve at 42C for 120 seconds. Visual Analog Scale VAS score, Boston Carpal Tunnel Scale and physical examination findings were evaluated before treatment, at 1, 3 and 6 months. All patients underwent EMG before the procedure and at 6 months. Results: At baseline, no significant variations were observed across groups regarding demographic characteristics as well as clinical parameters. At the third month, the VAS score decreased to 2.91.5 in the RF group while it was still 3.82.1 in the steroid group p0.048. Functional scores of the Boston scale were 1.60.7 in the pulsed radiofrequency group and 2.00.8 in the steroid group p0.037. In the electrophysiologic evaluation at the sixth month, motor distal latency was 3.90.7 ms in the RF group versus 4.30.8 ms in the steroid group p0.041. The rate of more than 50 improvement in VAS score was 80 in the RF group compared to 60 in the steroid group. Conclusion: Pulsed radiofrequency therapy delivers superior long-term results than steroid injection does. As a minimally invasive method, it should be evaluated before surgery.

 Amaç: Karpal tünel sendromunun tedavisinde ultrasonografi kılavuzluğunda pulsed radyofrekans ve steroid enjeksiyonunun etkinliğini karşılaştırmak amaçlandı. Yöntem: Bu retrospektif çalışmaya karpal tünel sendromu tanısı alan 60 hasta dahil edildi. Hastalar tedavi yöntemine göre iki gruba ayrıldı: 30 hastaya ultrasonografi kılavuzluğunda 40 mg metilprednizolon asetat enjeksiyonu, 30 hastaya ise ultrasonografi kılavuzluğunda 42Cde 120 saniye süreyle median sinire pulsed radyofrekans uygulandı. VAS skoru, Boston Karpal Tünel Ölçeği, fizik muayene bulguları ve elektrofizyolojik parametreler tedavi öncesi, 1, 3 ve 6. aylarda değerlendirildi. Sonuçlar: Başlangıçta, gruplar arasında demografik özellikler ve klinik parametreler açısından fark yoktu. Üçüncü ayda, VAS skoru pulsed radyofrekans grubunda 2,91,5e düşerken, steroid grubunda 3,82,1 olarak kaldı p0,048. Boston ölçeğinin fonksiyonel skorları pulsed radyofrekans grubunda 1,60,7, steroid grubunda 2,00,8 idi p0,037. Altıncı ayda yapılan elektrofizyolojik değerlendirmede, motor distal latensi pulsed radyofrekans grubunda 3,90,7 ms ve steroid grubunda 4,30,8 ms idi p0,041. VAS skorunda 50den fazla iyileşme oranı pulsed radyofrekans grubunda 80 ve steroid grubunda 60 idi. Sonuç: Pulsed radyofrekans tedavisi, steroid enjeksiyonuna göre uzun vadede daha üstün sonuçlar vermektedir. Minimal invaziv bir yöntem olarak, cerrahi öncesi değerlendirilmelidir.

Article Details

Comparison of pulsed radiofrequency and steroid injection in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome guided by USG imaging

Authors:

Zeki Boğa | Mustafa Emre Saraç

Publisher:

MediHealth Academy Yayıncılık

Main Topics:

Periferik Sinir Sistemi

Journal:

Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care Vol.6 Issue 4, pp.388-395

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

8/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357464

pISSN:

2717-7505

Carpal tunnel syndrome

median nerve

pulsed radiofrequency treatment

corticosteroid injection

ultrasonographyKarpal Tünel Sendromu

Median Sinir

Pulsed Radyofrekans Tedavisi

Ultrasonografi

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Zeki Boğa | Mustafa Emre Saraç

Publisher: MediHealth Academy Yayıncılık

Main Topics: Periferik Sinir Sistemi

Journal: Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care Vol.6 Issue 4, pp.388-395

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 8/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001357464

pISSN: 2717-7505

Issues

Authors:

Zeki Boğa | Mustafa Emre Saraç

Publisher:

MediHealth Academy Yayıncılık

Main Topics:

Periferik Sinir Sistemi

Journal:

Journal of Medicine and Palliative Care Vol.6 Issue 4, pp.388-395

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

8/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357464

pISSN:

2717-7505