Neutral wrist splinting in carpal tunnel syndrome: a 3- and 6-months clinical and neurophysiologic follow-up evaluation of night-only splint therapy

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of night-only splint wear therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS: We conducted a randomized case-control trial with evaluation after three and six months of follow-up of outpatients with mild, recent onset symptoms of CTS recruited from the department clinic. Fifty patients (50 hands) were enrolled, of which 36 completed the study at 6 months. The case group utilized a thermoplastic neutral wrist splint for night-only wear. Outcome measures were instrumental parameters (sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity), symptom and function alterations (as measured by Levine's self-administered questionnaire), clinical parameters (pressure-provocative and Phalen tests). RESULTS: Improvements were observed in Levine's symptom status score at the three-month (P=0.001) and the six-month (P=0.001) follow-up visits, in functional score (P=0.0001) and (P=0.0004), in median distal sensory latency (P=0.01) and (P=0.02), in pressure-provocative test outcome (P=0.01) and (P=0.003), in Phalen test outcome (P=0.04) and (P=0.05) respectively. CONCLUSION: Symptom relief and neurophysiological improvement after night-only splint wear therapy lasted up to the six-month follow-up visit.