Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of common peripheral nerve disorder which involves an entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve at the wrist which occurs either due to primary idiopathic cause or secondary to systemic causes. The diagnosis of CTS is clinical and supported by neurophysiological analysis. Surgical intervention is the main treatment modality.
Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of low level laser therapy (LLLT) to treat mild – moderate CTS cases.
Pateients and methods: The study involves 60 symptomatic patients complaining of CTS were divided into two groups. Group A was subjected to real LLLT by Gallium – Arsenide (Ga-As) laser (904 nm), whereas group B was subjected to sham laser. Thirty asymptomatic normal individuals as group C were subjected to real LLLT in the same protocol as that applied to CTS cases. The individuals were evaluated clinically and by nerve conduction studies (NCSs) at early time as baseline reading and immediately after the treatment and later on after two weeks from stopping the treatment sessions.
Results: LLLT showed significant pain reduction (70.9%) and improved latency and amplitude studies for sensory (16.7% and 29%, respectively) and motor (18% and 26%, respectively) median nerve fibers in patients group who were exposed to real laser therapy in comparison to sham group but normal individuals showed significant increment in motor amplitude (12%) after completing therapy sessions. Conduction velocity and minimal F wave latency studies did not show significant changes in all study groups.
Conclusion: LLLT is proved to be an effective, easy, handy, relatively safe, and noninvasive treatment modality for idiopathic CTS of mild – moderate severity. Broadening the spectrum of wavelengths and changing the power density and energy doses and enrolment of cases which has already been treated surgically still a hopeful view of using LLLT in CTS treatment for further investigations.
Background: The median nerve in paraplegic patients, who must rely on increased hand activities including transfer and wheel-chair propulsion, may be subjected to increased pressure, so that the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) may be higher than that in the normal population.
Objectives: To study the prevalence and the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome in Iraqi paraplegic patients and to identify the effect of duration of the injury as a possible factor related to its occurrence to avoid any chronic problems which interfere with the hand functions since these patients are greatly dependent on their hands for their daily activities.
Patients and Methods: Fifty paraplegic patients (100 hands), whose level of spinal cord in
Aim: The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of epineurotomy of median nerve with just division of the transverse carpal ligament in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Patients & Methods: We conducted a prospective, random study to evaluate the effect of epineurotomy on the outcome of operative treatment of established median-nerve compression in the carpal canal. Fifty hands (forty-four patients) were selected randomly into two groups: group I had a release of the transverse carpal ligament alone, and group II had a release and adjuvant epineurotomy of the median nerve. The groups were similar with regard to age group, gender, duration of symptoms, and preoperative physical findings. All patients had electrophysiological e
... Show MoreBackground: carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) a relatively common disease affecting ♀ more than ♂, usually at the age between 40 -60 , diagnosed by EMG & NCS, treated when moderate
to severe by surgical decompression of the median nerve.
Objective: To study the role of surgery in the management of CTS.
Patients & method: 124 patients collected from the neuro-surgical departments of the specialized surgical hospital from August 2001 till March 2007, all patients studied thoroughly
regarding age, sex, associated diseases, clinical features, EMG studies, surgery & out come & follow up for at least one year.
Results & discussion: there was around 2:1 ♀:♂ , with age predomena between 40-60
Background : Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy of upper extremities and Open carpal tunnel release is the most frequent surgical procedure and the gold standard for cases that do not respond to conservative treatment. Aims :This study is used to evaluate the functional outcome of limited palmar mini-incision of carpal tunnel release. This study aims to determine the safety and symptomatic and functional efficacy of median nerve decompression with limited incision in carpal tunnel syndrome surgery. Patients and methods:Carpal tunnel release with a 1.5-2 cm limited palmar incision was performed on 20 patients. Patients were evaluated initially at one month after treatment according to symptom severity
... Show MoreBackground: surgical treatment of established carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can be accomplished by various operative modalities, epineurotomy of the median nerve plus carpal ligament release has been advocated by many authors, This study try to evaluate the role of epineurotomy on the outcome of operative treatment of CTS postoperatively, compared to simple release only .
Patients and Methods: 48 hands of 42 patients, 34 female and 8 male. where classified in to two groups, one group had a release of the transverse carpal ligament alone, group (1). and the other group had a release plus epineurotomy of the median nerve, group (2). Selection of patients was according to the same clinical criteria regarding physical finding, periods
... Show MoreBackground: Carpal tunnel syndrome
(CTS) is the most common neuropathy of the
upper limb due to compression of the median
nerve at the wrist.
Objectives: to test the benefit of steroid
irrigation of the wound to alleviate the post
operative pain.
Methods: Forty patients had carpal tunnel
release were divided into two groups with and
without steroid irrigation.
Results: Forty patients 38 female and 2 male
with forty CTS had open surgical release were
studied for postoperative pain at the wrist area.
Group 1 (patients treated with surgery alone)
and group 2 (patients treated with surgery and
steroid).In group1, 11 patients (55%) had
persistent agonizing pain at the ulnar side of
the wrist
Spider veins are a common aesthetic problem mainly in females , the conventional method of treatment is by microsclerotherapy (injections) but laser therapy has become increasingly efficacious and a convenient method for treatment. The present study was performed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of pulsed diode laser (810nm) by doing thermal photocoagulation. Ten patients with lower limbs spider veins were included in this prospective study. They were treated with a repetitive pulsed diode laser in non contact technique using the following laser parameters (wave length 810nm,power 1 W ,pulse duration 0.1 s., pulse interval 0.5 s, spot diameter 4mm ,power density 7.9 W/cm2). Laser therapy was performed on day zero and day fourt
... Show MoreBackground: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most prevalent upper-limb entrapped neuropathy. A nerve conduction study (NCS) is the simplest method for identifying CTS when combined with a satisfactory clinical assessment and physical assessment. Ultrasound is a beneficial non-traumatic screening approach for CTS and there is a relationship between the NCS tests and the measures of CSA by ultrasound. Objective: to assess whether or not sonographic observations of the median nerve seems to be varied amongst DM and non-DM CTS individual. Patients and methods: The total of 50 non-DM Individuals with CTS and 50 DM individuals with CTS have been included in this study. All individuals were submitted to full medical assessment NCS testi
... Show MoreLow-intensity laser irradiation has been explored as an alternative, non-invasive method to encourage chronic wounds to heal. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of low level laser therapy (biostimulation) using semiconductor diode laser with wavelength (785 nm) on the enhancement of chronic wound healing. Fifty patients with chronic wounds were selected to be treated with Low Level Laser Therapy. Their ages ranged between 1 to 76 years. The wound sites were distributed in the lower limb, upper limb, trunk , perineum and head (70%,14%,12%,2%,2%, respectively). Application of laser therapy by noncontact method few millimeters from the skin for 15 minutes per one session twice weekly for two months ; ie,16 sessions for each patient. R
... Show MoreBackground: Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common entrapment neuropathy in humans today. For patients in whom conservative treatment fails, surgical decompression is indicated. Various surgical techniques are becoming increasingly popular. Due to the rapid postoperative recovery shown after endoscopic operations, proximal palmar mini-incision for carpal tunnel release is a comparative alternative. Methods: Ninety four patients [113 hands] with a carpal tunnel syndrome underwent carpal tunnel release through a 1-cm longitudinal incision made just over the distal flexor crease. The self- administered Boston Questionnaire was used to assess the severity of patients’ symptoms and their functional status, both before and after the surgical
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