Efficacy of ultrasound-guided needle-knife lysis combined with compound betamethasone injection in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome

Abstract

Objective To investigate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided needle-knife lysis combined with compound betamethasone injection in the treatment of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods Forty patients with CTS were randomly divided into combined needle-knife group and betamethasone group. The patients were treated with ultrasound-guided needle-knife lysis combined with compound betamethasone injection in combined needle-knife group, and compound betamethasone injection alone in betamethasone group, two times per one course, with 5 d interval. VAS was used to assess the pain degree at 1, 3 weeks and one month after the treatment and modified MacNab to evaluate the efficacy. Results VAS lowered at all time points after the treatment in the two groups, even lower in combined needle-knife group as compared with betamethasone group (P<0.05). The excellent and good rate was 100% (20/20 cases) in combined needle-knife lysis group at 3 weeks after the treatment, 90% (18/20 cases) in betamethasone group (P< 0.05), and 95% (19/20 cases) in combined needle-knife group at one month after the treatment, 80% (16/20 cases) in betamethasone group (P<0.05). No obvious complications were found. Conclusion The efficacy of ultrasound-guided needle-knife lysis combined with compound betamethasone injection is obvious, and superior to compound betamethasone injection alone in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Key words: Carpal tunnel syndrome; Ultrasonography, interventional; Small knife needle