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Comparison of splinting and splinting plus low-level laser therapy in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome
Clinical Rheumatology, 07/01/09

Yagci I et al. – Study reports that both splinting plus low-level laser therapy (SLLLT) and splinting (S) provides improvements in clinical parameters but SLLLT is electrophysiologically superior to splinting in majority of patients with idiopathic mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

• A comparison of the short-term efficacy of S and SLLLT in mild or moderate idiopathic CTS
• Pts with unilateral, mild, or moderate idiopathic CTS who experienced symptoms over 3 mo were included
• The SLLLT group: received 10 sessions of laser therapy and splinting; S group: given only splints
• Pts were evaluated at the baseline and after 3 mo of the treatment
• Follow-up parameters were:
  • Nerve conduction study (NCS)
  • Boston Questionnaire (BQ)
  • Grip strength, and
  • Clinical response criteria

• 45 pts with CTS completed the study
• 24 pts were in S and 21 pts were in SLLLT group
• In the third-month control, SLLLT group had improvements on both clinical and NCS parameters, while S group had only symptomatic healing
• Grip strength of splinting group was decreased significantly
• According to clinical response criteria:
  • In SLLLT group:
    • 5 (23.8%) pts had full and 12 (57.1%) had partial recovery
    • 4 (19%) pts had no change or worsened
  • In S group:
    • 1 patient (4.2%) had full and 17 (70.8%) partial recovery
    • 6 (25%) pts had no change or worsened
• Additionally, applied laser therapy provided better outcomes on NCS but not in clinical parameters in patients with CTS

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