Triamcinolone acetonide vs procaine hydrochloride injection in the management of carpal tunnel syndrome: randomized placebo-controlled study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this trial was to compare the efficacy of triamcinolone acetonide and procaine HCl with that of placebo in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

DESIGN:

This prospective, randomized placebo-controlled trial included 57 patients (90 median nerves). Ninety median nerves were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: group 1 was injected with 1 ml 0.09% saline, group 2 was injected with 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide, and group 3 was injected with 4 ml 1% procaine HCl. Clinical and electrophysiological evaluations were performed at study onset, and at 2 and 6 months post-treatment.

RESULTS:

At study onset no significant differences were observed between groups with respect to clinical and electrophysiological parameters. Clinical and electrophysiological evaluations was improved significantly in groups 2 and 3 at post-treatment (p<0.05). No significant changes were observed in group 1 (p>0.05). Moreover, groups 2 and 3 had better scores than group 1 at 2 and 6 months post-treatment(p<0.05). There was no difference between groups 2 and 3 in terms of change scores of any terms at post-treatment (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Triamcinolone acetonide and procaine HCl injections are effective regarding short- and long-term outcomes compared with placebo injections, and procaine HCl injection was as effective as steroid injection.

• Authors: Ömer Karadaş, Fatih Tok, Selim Akarsu, Levent Tekin, Birol Balaban
• Journal: Journal of rehabilitation medicine (J Rehabil Med) Vol. 44 Issue 7 Pg. 601-4 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1651-2081 [Electronic] Sweden
• PMID: 22674243 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Adrenal Cortex Hormones
• Anesthetics, Local
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Procaine
• Triamcinolone Acetonide

Topics

• Adrenal Cortex Hormones (therapeutic use)
• Anesthetics, Local (therapeutic use)
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (therapeutic use)
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Median Nerve
• Middle Aged
• Pain Measurement
• Procaine (therapeutic use)
• Triamcinolone Acetonide (therapeutic use)