An innovative hand brace for carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

We developed a hand brace and studied its efficacy and tolerability in pati ents with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We randomized 83 subjects into a tr eated group, which wore the hand brace at night for 4 weeks, and a control group, which received no treatment. The primary efficacy measure was change in the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) score. Secondary measures were Subjects' Global Impression of Change Questionnaire (SGlCQ), median d istal motor latency, sensory conduction velocity and amplitude, and neuroph ysiological class of severity. The treated group showed a reduction in BCTQ symptomatic score (from 2.75 to 1.54 at 4 weeks; P < 0.001) and. functiona l score (from 1.89 to 1.48; P < 0.001). There were no significant changes i n the control subjects. SGlCQ documented improvement in all treated subject s (P = 0.006). No significant difference was found in electrophysiological measurements, but overall neurophysiological classification shifted to less severe classes in the treated group (P < 0.05). Thus, the study demonstrat es that this hand brace is highly efficient in relieving symptoms and funct ional loss in CTS. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.