Study Summary

This meta-analysis included 12 randomized controlled trials representing 1799 patients, with 880 undergoing carpal tunnel release (CTR) and 919 receiving local corticosteroid injection (LCI). The outcomes of interest were management failure at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and final follow-up, improvement in function (Boston questionnaire and visual analog scale), and improvement in symptoms (Boston questionnaire, visual analog scale for pain or night paresthesia, and global symptom scales) at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Overall, the results of the study revealed that carpal tunnel release and local corticosteroid injection were equivalent in terms of failure rates and functional improvement during the first 6 months after treatment. However, at 1 year and latest follow-up, local corticosteroid injection demonstrated significantly higher failure rates, and carpal tunnel release showed superior improvement in symptoms at 6 months and 1 year. These findings suggest that injection may serve as a short-term option, whereas surgical release provides better long-term benefit.