An innovative hand brace for carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

We developed a hand brace and studied its efficacy and tolerability in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We randomized 83 subjects into a treated group, which wore the hand brace at night for 4 weeks, and a control group, which received no treatment. The primary efficacy measure was change in the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) score. Secondary measures were Subjects' Global Impression of Change Questionnaire (SGICQ), median distal motor latency, sensory conduction velocity and amplitude, and neurophysiological class of severity. The treated group showed a reduction in BCTQ symptomatic score (from 2.75 to 1.54 at 4 weeks; P < 0.001) and functional score (from 1.89 to 1.48; P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in the control subjects. SGICQ documented improvement in all treated subjects (P = 0.006). No significant difference was found in electrophysiological measurements, but overall neurophysiological classification shifted to less severe classes in the treated group (P < 0.05). Thus, the study demonstrates that this hand brace is highly efficient in relieving symptoms and functional loss in CTS.

Conservative Interventions for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

“…Interestingly, in this study, it seems the extent of relief was not correlated with duration of symptoms of CTS. Manente et al 54 support the use of night splinting compared to no splinting in a group of patients with CTS, at least for the short-term follow-up. The group treated with a splint showed a reduction in SSS scores from 2.75 to 1.54 (P Ͻ.001) and FSS scores from 1.89 to 1.48 (PϽ.001) at 4 weeks, with no significant change in the control group that did not use a splint.…”

Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of the carpal tunnel syndrome: a review

“…One randomised controlled study has proved that night-time wear of an innovative soft hand brace for 4 weeks was associated to a significant improvement in symptoms and functions as measured with the Boston Carpal Tunnel Symptom Questionnaire [29], compared to the non-treated group (BCTS SYMPT: 1.21 vs. 0.16, P \ 0.001; BCTS FUNCT:0.41 vs. 0.01, P \ 0.001) (LOE II) [30]. The degree of symptom and function improvement was comparable to that reported in a prospective study of patients after 3 months from surgical intervention [28].…”

Comparison Efficacy of Triamcinolone and Wrist Splint in Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Pregnancy

“…Wrist splint is usually worn during night and in case of tolerance it is also worn during days. When worn at night for four weeks, a specially designed wrist brace was found to be more effective than no treatment in relieving the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome [13].…”