Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ̒Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Bābul (Feb 2011)

Comparison between Efficacy of Manu Splint and Cock-up Splint in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment

  • R Bye,
  • B Hajiaqai,
  • B Frorough

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 51 – 57

Abstract

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) or compression neuropathy of median nerve in carpal tunnel is the main cause of pain, numbness and tingling in the upper limb. The most common conservative interventions in mild to moderate CTS are wrist splints. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of the Manu splint to wrist cock-up splint on the symptoms and functional status in CTS. METHODS: In this clinical trial study, we randomized 20 hands (12 female patients) with CTS into a group wearing the splint that keep 3rd and 4th fingers in extension (Manu splint) and into another one wearing the short cock-up splint with natural wrist angle, at night for 4 weeks. The patients were evaluated and compared after 2nd and 4th weeks by Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and Pain Visual Analog Scale. The questionnaire comprised two parts: symptoms severity and functional statues that maximum scores were 55 and 40 for symptom severity and functional statues, respectively. Maximum score was 100 for PVAS.FINDINGS: The average symptom scores of BCTQ and pain scores significantly reduced in both groups after 4 weeks. Functional statues score was diminished significantly only in Manu splint group after 2 weeks (p=0.004). In comparison between 2 groups, after 4 weeks, the mean symptom severity score in Manu splint group was -31.15±15.37 and in cock-up splint group was -51.38±15.21 (p=0.008), the mean pain severity score in Manu splint group was -61.72±34.86 and in cock-up splint group was -98.59±2.96 (p=0.004). After 4 weeks no significant differences exited between 2 groups in term of functional status.CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that a 4 week treatment with either the hand brace or the wrist splint induced symptomatic benefit in patients with CTS. In the orthotic treatment of CTS, wrist posture is more important than finger posture.

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