One-Year Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma for Moderate-to-Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial.

Abstract Objective To assess the therapeutic effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for moderate-to-severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Design A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial (1-year follow-up). Setting Outpatient of local medical center settings. Participants Twenty-six patients who were diagnosed with bilateral moderate-to-severe CTS (total 52 wrists) were included. For each patient, one wrist was randomized into either the PRP or control group and the contralateral wrist of the same patient was allocated to another group. Twenty-four patients were included in the final data analysis. Interventions The wrists in the PRP group received a single ultrasound-guided dose of PRP injection (3.5 mL), and the control group received a single ultrasound-guided injection with normal saline (3.5 mL). Main Outcome Measures The Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) scores were used as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes encompassed the cross-sectional area of the median nerve and electrophysiological study. Assessments were conducted prior to injection and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-injection. Results Compared to the control group, the PRP group exhibited significant improvements in BCTQ severity scores at all time-points, BCTQ functional scores at the 6th month, and cross-sectional area at the 12th month post-injection (P Conclusions A single dose of ultrasound-guided perineural PRP injection can provide therapeutic effect for 1 year post-injection.