New Delhi: Carpal tunnel syndrome sends shooting pain up and down the wrist, but a simple injection of salt water around a nerve in the wrist could offer longer lasting relief compared to steroid injections, found a new study.
The study, published in Radiology by researchers at Delhi’s University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, examined a technique called “hydriodissection” in which doctors use ultrasound to guide a needle and inject fluid around a compressed nerve. The fluid allows the nerve to move more freely and eases the pressure around it, separating it from surrounding tissues.
“Traditional steroid injection for carpal tunnel syndrome often provides only temporary relief, thus requiring repeats of the procedure. Further, steroids carry risk of localized skin changes, fat thinning and tendon weakening,” co-author Anupama Tandon, professor in the Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging at University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in Delhi, said in a statement.
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Easing the pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs through a narrow passage in the wrist, is compressed. It causes pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness making it difficult for a person to type, write, or grip objects.
In a small trial, researchers studied 39 adults who had persistent symptoms for over three months despite trying a variety of treatments like medications and wrist splints, medical devices designed to immobilize and support the wrist.
All three treatments eased the symptoms in the first four weeks. But patients who received hydrodissection continued to improve even after 12 weeks and six months, while those who received steroid injections alone experienced a return of symptoms.
Researchers also found that swelling in the median nerve reduced by nearly 45 per cent among those who received hydrodissection, compared to 15 per cent among those who received steroid injections alone.
Their findings suggest that a key aspect of treating carpal tunnel syndrome might be separating the compressed nerve from surrounding tissues. However, they warn that the study was conducted at only one centre, using a small cohort, and lacked a placebo group for comparison.
Although the researchers did not note any major complications, some participants did experience mild swelling and pain which subsided in a few days.
According to the study, larger analyses with follow-ups are needed to establish how reliable the technique is, especially since some severe cases of carpal tunnel syndrome even require surgery.