The Effectiveness of Ultrasound‐Guided compared to Blind Steroid Injections in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided injections to blind injections in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in a large community-based cohort. Methods: This study evaluated residents of Olmsted County, MN, USA, treated with a corticosteroid injection for CTS between 2001 and 2010. The proportion of patients receiving retreatment and the duration of retreatment-free survival between blind and ultrasound-guided injections were compared. Propensity score matching was used to control for confounding by indication. Results: In the matched dataset consisting of 234 (out of 600) hands treated with a blind injection and 87 (out of 89) ultrasound-guided injection cases, ultrasound guidance was associated with a reduced hazard of retreatment (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37 - 0.93). In addition, ultrasound guidance was associated with 55% reduced odds of retreatment within one year compared to blind injections (adjusted odds ratio, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.24 - 0.83). Conclusion: This study indicates that ultrasound-guided injections are more effective in comparison to blind injections in the treatment of CTS. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.