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Methylprednisolone injections improve symptom severity and rate of surgery for CTS
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November 2013
Methylprednisolone injections improve symptom severity and rate of surgery for CTS
Study Type:Therapy
OE Level Evidence:1
Journal Level of Evidence:N/A
Methylprednisolone used for the carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Ann Intern Med. 2013 Sep 3;159(5):309-17Did you know you're eligible to earn 0.5 CME credits for reading this report? Click Here
Synopsis
111 patients experiencing symptoms of classic or probable carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with failed wrist splinting treatment, were randomized to evaluate the long-term, dose-response efficacy of 80mg and 40mg of methylprednisolone injections on symptom severity and rate of surgery, over a 1 year period. The use of methylprednisolone of either dose demonstrated superior improvements in symptom severity at 10 weeks compared to placebo but no significant differences were found after 1 year. Rates of surgery were 73%, 81%, and 92% for 80mg, 40mg and placebo patients respectively.
Publication Funding Details
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Funding:
Non-Industry funded
Sponsor:
Region of Scania Research and Development Foundation and Hassleholm Hospital Organization
Conflicts:
None disclosed
Was the allocation sequence adequately generated?
Was allocation adequately concealed?
Blinding Treatment Providers: Was knowledge of the allocated interventions adequately prevented?
Blinding Outcome Assessors: Was knowledge of the allocated interventions adequately prevented?
Blinding Patients: Was knowledge of the allocated interventions adequately prevented?
Was loss to follow-up (missing outcome data) infrequent?
Are reports of the study free of suggestion of selective outcome reporting?
Were outcomes objective, patient-important and assessed in a manner to limit bias (ie. duplicate assessors, Independent assessors)?
Was the sample size sufficiently large to assure a balance of prognosis and sufficiently large number of outcome events?
Was investigator expertise/experience with both treatment and control techniques likely the same (ie.were criteria for surgeon participation/expertise provided)?
Yes = 1
Uncertain = 0.5
Not Relevant = 0
No = 0
The Reporting Criteria Assessment evaluates the transparency with which authors report the methodological and trial characteristics of the trial within the publication. The assessment is divided into five categories which are presented below.
4/4
Randomization
3/4
Outcome Measurements
4/4
Inclusion / Exclusion
4/4
Therapy Description
4/4
Statistics
Detsky AS, Naylor CD, O'Rourke K, McGeer AJ, L'Abbé KA. J Clin Epidemiol. 1992;45:255-65
The Fragility Index is a tool that aids in the interpretation of significant findings, providing a measure of strength for a result. The Fragility Index represents the number of consecutive events that need to be added to a dichotomous outcome to make the finding no longer significant. A small number represents a weaker finding and a large number represents a stronger finding.
Why was this study needed now?
Carpal tunnel release surgery in the United States is performed yearly in almost 25 women and 13 men per 10,000 adults. The surgery itself results in good outcomes for affected patients but often presents with surgery-related pain, hand weakness, and further complications. Theoretically speaking, an equally effective, nonsurgical method could address these limitations, and recent evidence has supported the use of steroid injections in carpal tunnel surgery (CTS). No previous studies have reported on long-term benefits of steroid usage, or the dose-response relationship, and therefore this study was needed to determine the efficacy, symptom severity and risk of surgery associated with 1 year of first-time local injection of 2 different doses of methylprednisolone in idiopathic CTS patients.
What was the principal research question?
Is the use of 80mg or 40mg methylprednisolone in treatment for CTS an effective nonsurgical intervention for reducing syndrome symptoms, assessed over a period of 1 year?
Study Characteristics
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Population:
111 patients with primary idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) aged 18 to 70 years, with symptoms of classic or probable CTS (with unsuccessful 2-month treatment). Selected patients were referred for surgery based on symptom severity and nerve conduction test results that indicated median neuropathy at the wrist.
Intervention:
80mg methylprednisolone Subgroup: Patients received 2mL (80mg) of methylprednisolone plus 1mL of lidocaine. (n= 37; all analyzed; Mean Age: 47 SD 12 years; M/F= 11/26)
40mg methylprednisolone Subgroup: Patients received 1mL (40mg) of methylprednisolone plus 1 mL saline plus 1mL of lidocaine. (n= 37; all analyzed; Mean Age: 44 SD 11 years; M/F= 10/27)
Comparison:
Placebo Group: Patients received 2mL of saline plus 1mL of lidocaine (n= 37; all analyzed; Mean Age: 49 SD 11 years; M/F= 9/28)
Outcomes:
Primary end points measured change in CTS symptom severity at 10 weeks and the rate of surgery at 1 year. Time to surgery and change in CTS symptom severity score at 1 year, as well as the short Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (Quick DASH) score, Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey bodily pain score, SF-6D, and treatment satisfaction at 10 weeks and 1 year, were measured as secondary end points.
Methods:
RCT: Single-Centered: Double-Blinded
Time:
Patients contacted at 5-weeks (via telephone), assessed at 10 weeks and 1 year
What were the important findings?
- CTS symptom severity scores at 10 weeks improved more for methylprednisolone treated patients compared to placebo (p=0.003 for 80mg and p<0.001 for 40 mg). The mean change from baseline in the three groups at 10 weeks was -0.90 SD 1.0 for 80mg, -1.17 SD 0.95 for 40mg, and -0.30 SD 0.66 for placebo. No significant difference was found between the two methylprednisolone groups.
- At 10 weeks, patients who pursued surgery had exacerbated symptom severity scores compared with patients who did not pursue surgery (Mean Difference= 1.15; p> 0.05)
- At 1 year, 73%, 81% and 92% of patients had surgery in the 80mg, 40mg and the placebo groups, respectively. 80mg subgroup patients had a decreased likelihood of having surgery 1 year after injection compared with placebo (OR 0.24 p= 0.042); however, this was not significant for the 40mg subgroup compared with placebo (p> 0.05). Relative risk for surgery was 0.79 (p= 0.039) and 0.88 (p= 0.180) for the 80mg and 40mg methylprednisolone subgroups, respectively
- Time from injection to surgery was significantly longer for both intervention methylprednisolone subgroups (p= 0.003 for 80mg; p= 0.022 for 40mg) when compared against the placebo group. Methylprednisolone receiving patients exhibited a lower likelihood of undergoing surgery compared with the placebo patients (Hazard Ratio 0.46, p= 0.003 for 80mg; Hazard Ratio 0.57, p= 0.026 for 40mg). No difference was found for likelihood of surgery between methylprednisolone subgroups (Hazard Ratio: 0.81; p= 0.42)
- Quick DASH, SF-36 bodily pain, SF-6D, and treatment satisfaction were superior in both methylprednisolone subgroups compared with placebo (all p< 0.025), however long term analysis demonstrated no differences between groups for the listed measures at 24 weeks and 1 year (all p> 0.100).
- Rate of patient reported pain after injection was higher in methylprednisolone subgroups (24 patients) compared with the placebo group (6 patients; p< 0.001). No serious adverse events occurred and all pain was resolved within 2 weeks
- Patients with higher nerve conduction abnormality and baseline symptom severity benefited more from methylprednisolone. 80mg methylprednisolone subgroup patients demonstrated a greater improvement at 10 weeks for pinch strength (p= 0.44) and monofilament sensation (p= 0.010) compared with placebo. No other differences were observed (p> 0.100).
What should I remember most?
The use of both doses of methylprednisolone (80mg and 40mg) in treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) demonstrated significant improvements in CTS severity scores, when compared to the placebo at 10 weeks; however, this effect was no longer apparent at 24 weeks, and final 1 year follow-up. 1 year-rates of surgery were 73%, 81% and 92% in 80mg methylprednisolone, 40mg methylprednisolone, and placebo groups respectively. 80mg methylprednisolone administered patients were less likely to undergo surgery, and both methylprednisolone subgroups had greater time to surgery. Finally, subgroup analyses indicated that 80mg methylprednisolone resulted in superior outcomes for pinch strength and monofilament sensation when compared against placebo.
How will this affect the care of my patients?
The use of methylprednisolone injections for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in affected patients is beneficial in the relief of symptom severity at 10 weeks and in reducing the rates of surgery after 1 year after treatment. However it should be noted that 3 of 4 patients still had surgery within 1 year. Future research should focus on conservative treatments that resolve carpal tunnel syndrome related symptoms and reduce the need for surgery.
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