In short
There is currently 1 ongoing clinical trial for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This trial is taking place in Norway and is comparing injection therapy using corticosteroid medications to surgery as treatment options for adults with mild to moderate symptoms.
Clinical trial locations
Study Comparing Injection Therapy with Triamcinolone Acetonide and Triamcinolone Hexacetonide to Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Adults
This clinical trial is investigating whether injection therapy can be as effective as surgery for treating carpal tunnel syndrome in adults. The condition occurs when the median nerve, which runs through the wrist, becomes compressed, causing pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and arm.
Inclusion criteria: To participate in this study, you must be an adult between 18 and 65 years of age with a history suggesting carpal tunnel syndrome. You need to have had a neurophysiological examination within the last 6 months that confirms the diagnosis. This examination tests how well your nerves and muscles are working. Your symptoms should be mild to moderate, meaning they come and go, interfere with daily activities, or disturb your sleep. The diagnosis must be based on either classic, probable, or possible symptoms along with matching test results, or if test results are normal, then classic or probable symptoms plus positive findings from a physical exam or nighttime symptoms.
Exclusion criteria: You cannot participate if you are under 18 or over 65 years old. Additionally, patients who are considered part of a vulnerable population requiring special protection or care are not eligible for this study.
Focus of the trial: The study compares two treatment strategies over a 12-month period, with additional follow-up assessments at 3, 6, and 24 months. Participants are assigned to either receive ultrasound-guided injection therapy or surgery as their primary treatment. Those in the injection group may receive up to two injections of corticosteroid medications containing either triamcinolone acetonide (Kenacort-T) or triamcinolone hexacetonide (Trica or Lederspan). These injections aim to reduce inflammation and relieve pressure on the median nerve. If the injection therapy does not provide adequate relief, surgery may be considered as a follow-up option. The surgery group undergoes a procedure called carpal tunnel release, where the ligament forming the roof of the carpal tunnel is cut to relieve pressure on the nerve. Throughout the study, researchers monitor symptom improvement using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, aiming for a symptom score of 1.5 or less. They also track work performance, healthcare utilization, and any side effects from the treatments.
Investigational treatments: The trial uses ultrasound-guided injection therapy with corticosteroid medications as one treatment approach. The injections are administered at doses of either 20 mg/ml or 40 mg/ml, depending on the specific product. The alternative treatment is surgical intervention through carpal tunnel release. Both treatments are being evaluated to determine which strategy provides better long-term outcomes for managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
Summary
Currently, there is only one active clinical trial for carpal tunnel syndrome, located in Norway. This trial focuses on comparing conservative injection therapy using corticosteroid medications to surgical intervention. The study specifically targets adults with mild to moderate symptoms and aims to determine whether an injection-first approach can achieve comparable results to surgery. The trial will provide valuable information about treatment effectiveness, patient-reported outcomes, and the impact on daily activities and work performance over a two-year follow-up period. This research may help guide future treatment decisions for patients and healthcare providers managing this common condition.
