The Effects of Steroid Phonophoresis on Clinical Parameters and Nerve Conduction Velocities in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Year 2012, Volume: 37 Issue: 1, 17 - 26, 01.03.2012

Filiz Doğan-akçam Sibel Başaran Rengin Güzel Füsun Güler Uysal

Abstract

Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the effects of steroid phonophoresis on electroneurophysiological and clinical parameters and to compare these effects with ultrasound (US) and sham US in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Material-Method: 39 patients with CTS (69 hands) were included in the study. Patients were randomized to phonophoresis (n=13 patients, 21 hands), US (n=13 patients, 24 hands) and sham US (n=13 patients, 24 hands) groups. Steroid phonophoresis, using dexamethasone as conductive agent, was applied at 1.0 W/cm2 to the phonophoresis group. Ultrasound at 1.0 W/cm2 and imitative US at 0.0 W/cm2 were applied to the US and sham US groups respectively. All groups were asked to perform tendon and nerve gliding exercises. Distal motor latency (mMDL) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (mSNCV) of median nerve, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Boston Scale were assessed at the beginning, 2nd week and in the 12th week. Results: All of the variables were significantly improved in the 12th week in steroid phonophoresis group, whereas VAS, symptom severity and functional capacity of Boston scale were improved in US and sham US groups. mSNCV was also improved in sham US group. The differences between 12th week-pre treatment values (delta) were used for group comparisons. Delta values of electroneurophysiological parameters of phonophoresis group were found to be significantly different, whereas no significant differences were found between the groups for the other variables. Conclusion: Steroid phonophoresis has favorable effects on electroneurophysiological studies and these effects last longer. Favorable effects on clinical findings and patient based assessments were observed in all groups. The improvements seen in sham US group may suggest the effectiveness of tendon and nerve gliding exercises.

Keywords

Carpal tunnel syndrome, ultrasound, steroid phonophoresis, Boston Scale, EMG

Karpal Tünel Sendromunda Steroid Fonoforezinin Klinik Bulgular ve Sinir İletim Hızlarına Olan Etkisi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma karpal tünel sendromunda (KTS) steroid fonoforezinin elektronörofizyolojik ve klinik parametreler üzerine olan etkisini araştırmak ve bu etkileri ultrason (US) ve sham (taklit) US uygulamaları ile karşılaştırmak amacı ile planlandı. Gereç-Yöntem: Çalışmaya idiyopatik KTS tanısı konmuş 39 hasta (69 el) alındı. Hastalar fonoforez (n=13 hasta, 21 el), US (n=13 hasta, 24 el) ve sham US (n=13 hasta, 24 el) gruplarına randomize edildi. Fonoforez grubuna 1,0 W/cm2 dozda ve iletici ajan olarak %0,1 dexametazon pomad kullanılarak steroid fonoforezi tedavisi, US grubuna 1,0 W/cm2 dozda ultrason tedavisi, sham US grubuna ise 0,0 W/cm2 dozda taklit ultrason tedavisi uygulandı. Her üç gruba da tendon ve sinir kaydırma egzersizleri önerildi. Hastalar tedavinin başlangıcında, 2.haftasında ve 12. haftasında elektronörofizyolojik parametrelerden median sinir motor distal latansı (mMDL) ve duysal sinir iletim hızları (mSNCV), görsel analog skala (VAS) ve Boston Skalası ile değerlendirildiler. Bulgular: Steroid fonoforezi grubunda 12.haftada tüm değişkenlerde, US ve sham US gruplarında ise VAS, Boston skalası semptom şiddeti ve fonksiyonel kapasite değerlerinde anlamlı düzelme görüldü. Sham US grubunda ayrıca 12.hafta MSNCV değerlerinde de düzelme mevcuttu. Hastaların tedavi öncesi ile 12.hafta değerleri arasındaki farklar (delta) kullanılarak gruplar arası karşılaştırmalar yapıldığında elektronörofizyolojik parametrelerin delta değerlerinde steroid fonoforezi lehine anlamlı farklılık gözlenirken, diğer değişkenlerde farklılık yoktu. Sonuç: KTS tedavisinde steroid fonoforezinin elektronörofizyolojik parametreler üzerine daha olumlu etkileri olduğu ve bu etkilerin daha uzun sürdüğü görülmüştür. Klinik bulgular ve hasta kaynaklı değerlendirmelerde her üç grupta da olumlu etkiler görülmüştür. Sham US grubunda görülen düzelmeler tendon ve sinir kaydırma egzersizlerinin etkisine bağlanabilir.

Keywords

Karpal tünel sendromu, ultrason, steroid fonoforezi, Boston Skalası, EMG

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