Clinical Efficiency Testing of Extracorporeal Radial and Focused Shock Wave Therapy in Patients With Mild to Moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The aim of the project is to test the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (radial + focused) on clinical outcomes in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Shock wave therapy has already been shown to be potentially effective in the literature. However, no studies are known to date that test both shock wave types in one protocol, and the follow-up period in the previous studies was set at a maximum of 24 weeks.

Consequently, this study is planned as a multicenter, prospective, randomized, investigator-blinded study. 60 subjects will be assigned to the two shock wave types, and the follow-up period is scheduled for 32 weeks.

The study will be conducted at the Institute for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University Hospital Krems and St. Pölten. Recruitment will take place through the respective CTS outpatient clinics of the departments, as well as through private practice (orthopedists, general practitioners, neurologists, etc.). The inclusion and exclusion criteria are checked before the subject is included in the study, with nerve conduction velocity (NCV) being emphasized as a diagnostic method.

After the patient is included in the study or signs the consent form, the relevant demographic, medical, and personal data are collected (pseudonymized procedure). Study-related measurements are then performed (nerve sonography, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, Visual Analog Scale). The baseline examinations and follow-up examinations are each performed by the same physician (blinded), while the subsequent shock wave therapy is performed by a second physician.

After the baseline examinations, the patient is randomly assigned to one of the two shock wave groups and receives five shock wave therapy sessions one week apart. The pulses and frequency of both treatments are identical (2000 and 5 Hz, respectively). The intensity is xx bar in the radial group and 0.05 mj/mm² in the focused group.

Detailed follow-up assessments, including all baseline measurements, will be conducted 16 and 32 weeks after the first shock wave therapy. At weeks 8 and 24, a questionnaire (Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire; VAS) will also be sent to the patient.

Patients with bilateral clinical CTS will serve as the control group. In this case, the more symptomatic hand will be assigned to a shock wave treatment group, while the other hand will serve as a control. This means no treatment, but all measurements will be performed in the same way as in the study groups.

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Key information

Conditions

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Cumulative Trauma Disorders Median Neuropathy Mononeuropathies Nerve Compression Syndromes Nervous System Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Sprains and Strains Wounds and Injuries

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Patients of all genders
aged above 18 years
suffering from mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome with typical symptoms like pain, paresthesia, or fine motoric disorders:

very mild (grade 1): sensory nerve conduction velocity mildly reduced orslowercompared to the contralateral side.
mild (grade 2): distal motor latency <4,5ms and sensory nerve conduction velocity < 40 m/s
moderate (grade 3): distal motor latency between 4,5 and 6,5 ms and preserved sensory nerve amplitude.
Patients with bilateral CTS also will be included, whereas the less symptomatic hand will be assessed as well, but receive no therapy.

Exclusion criteria

Patients with severe CTS (distal motor latency above 6,5ms or absent sensory potentials);
Prior therapy (even night splints) for CTS within the last six months
The presence of common systemic diseases, that have known influence on the peripheral nerve system, like diabetes mellitus, polyneuropathy orabusive C2 consumption
Postsurgical CTS
Patients with serious injury of the wrist in medical history (e.g. radius fracture) or previous damage to median nerve and more proximal located compression syndrome of median nerve
Patients with implanted electronic devices like defibrillators or pacemakers
Pregnant women
bifid median nerve;

Treatment and study plan

radial shock wave therapy

Device

treatment of the nervus medianus on the level of the carpal tunnel with radial shock wave therapy with 1500 impulses, 5 Hz and 1,5 bar

focused shock wave therapy

Device

treatment of the nervus medianus on the level of the carpal tunnel with focused shock wave therapy with 1500 impulses, 5 Hz and 0,05 mJ/mm²

Primary outcomes

Numeric Rating Scale

Time frame: from enrollment until 32 weeks after first shockwave session

The patient will be asked to categorize his pain and paresthesia on a numeric scale between 0 and 10.
Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire

Time frame: from enrollment until 32 weeks after first shockwave session

Questionnaire to evaluate symptoms and functional restriction in daily activities in patients with CTS

Secondary outcomes

Nerve conduction study parameters

Time frame: from enrollment until 32 weeks after first shockwave session

Distal motor latency (DML):The electrode for assessingt he motoric fibers of the median nerve will be applied on the muscle belly of the thenar muscles. The orthodromic motoric stimulation will be performed 6,5 centimeters proxima l to the recording site at the height of the wrist with a single electric impulse. The time between stimulation and the initialincrease of the respondingcompoundm usclea ction potential (CMAP)i s namedt he DML.
Neurosonography of median nerve

Time frame: from enrollment until 32 weeks after first shockwave session
- Cross-sectional area (CSA): The cross-sectional area of the median nerve will be measured at a typical location at the height of the os pisiforme. The increase in CSA is a well-investigated finding in CTS patients with a cut-off value of about 10 mm2.
- CSA differences: At the proximal third of the pronatorquadratus muscle (>10 centimeteß proximal) a second CSA measurement of the median nerve will be carried out. The difference between the proximal and the dista l values is also a specific and sensitive diagnostic criterion for CTS
Nerve conduction study parameters

Time frame: from enrollment until 32 weeks after first shockwave session

-Sensory nerve conduction velocity: A ring electrode (cathode) is placed on the index finger at the height of the proximal interphalangeal joint. The median nerve will be electrically stimulated antidromically at the same height on the wrist as in DML measurement (approximately 13-14 centimeters proximal to the recording site). For calculation of the nerve conduction velocity, the knowledge of the exact distance between the stimulation and the recording site of the nerve is necessary and therefore will be measure

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital St. Polten

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of Radial and Focused Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Patients Wirh Carpal Tunnel Syndrom. a Multicentric, Randomised Observer-blinded Trial

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2028
First posted: Apr 6, 2025
Registry last updated: Apr 6, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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