Affiliations: [a] Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Ministry of Health, Gebze Fatih State Hospital, Izmit, Turkey | [b] Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Ministry of Health, Istanbul Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey | [c] Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey | [d] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Nightingale Hospital, Istanbul Bilim University Florence, Istanbul, Turkey
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Saliha Eroglu Demir, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Medical Faculty, Bezmialem Vakif University, Adnan Menderes Bulvarı Vatan Cad. Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey. Tel.: +90 212 523 37 19; Fax: +90 212 533 23 26; E-mail:saliha45@yahoo.com
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The position of metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints may be
an important factor affecting the efficacy of splinting in patients with
carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy
of a neutral volar static wrist splint with a neutral volar static wrist and
MCP splint in patients with CTS. METHODS: Fifty-four hands were included into the study. A neutral
volar static wrist splint was given to the symptomatic hands of the patients
in group 1 while a neutral volar static wrist and MCP splint was given to
the symptomatic hands of the patients in group 2. Evaluation parameters were
Visual Analog Scale for pain severity (VASp), grip strength, pinch strength,
electrophysiologic tests and CTS Questionnaire (CTSQ) at baseline and four
weeks later. RESULTS: At baseline there was no difference between groups. The
intergroup comparison of the improvement showed significant differences in
VASp at rest, grip strength, pinch strength and CTSQ functional capacity
scores between groups in favor of wrist MCP splint. Although there were
significant improvements with regard to sensory amplitude and motor latency
in both groups after therapy, the differences between groups were not at the
level of significance. CONCLUSIONS: The position of MCP joints seems to be an important
factor for the treatment of CTS and should be considered while prescribing a
splint to the patients with CTS.
