Abstract:

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a condition occurring in 0.1% of the general population, develops as the result of median nerve compression in the carpal tunnel of the wrist, usually because of tenosynovitis of the flexor tendons. We aimed to compare pulsed-mode radiofrequency lesioning of the median nerve to repetitive local steroid injections under ultrasound guidance (USG) for the treatment of CTS. Two groups were treated, each of 25 patients with a diagnosis of moderate CTS, referred to in this study as Group Steroid (Group S) and Group Radiofrequency (Group S+RF). Both groups received an injection of 1 ml 0.5% levobupivacaine mixed with 1 ml betamethasone into the carpal tunnel under USG. Four weeks later, Group S received a local steroid injection together with the same initial dose, and Group S+RF received pulsed-mode radiofrequency. All procedures were applied under the USG(Esaote® MyLab Five, Netherlands) by the same doctor (Dr Sehirlioglu) Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and electromyographic evaluation were applied to all patients on their first visit and 12 weeks later. At the 12th week, changes of the electrophysiological parameters of the median nerve were recorded for both groups, including motor and sensorial conduction velocity, functional capacity and symptom

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