Evaluating neuropathic complaints by DN4 and lanss scales after local corticosteroid therapy in carpal tunnel syndrome.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuropathic symptoms after local steroid injection in CTS. Since 2001, neuropathic pain scales have been used in the assessment and follow-up of neuropathic pain. DN4 and LANSS pain questionnaires have been applied to groups, mostly consisted of radiculopathy and polyneuropathy cases, before and after various treatments and the results have been compared with the electrophysiologic findings. However to our knowledge there is yet no such study focusing on neuropathic complaints and the relationship between neuropathic pain and electrophysiological findings before and after local corticosteroid injection. METHODS: Forty-one patients aged 22-65 years and diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome by nerve conduction studies who were also found to have neuropathic symptoms were included in the study. All patients received local steroid injection into the carpal tunnel while the questionnaires and nerve conduction studies were performed before and 2 months after the injection. RESULTS: Local steroid injection was found effective on clinical and electrophysiologic parameters as well as on DN4 and LANSS scores in CTS patients (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggests that the treatment of neuropathic complaints should be planned independently from the electrophysiologic findings and minimally invasive local steroid injection appears to be effective with regard to clinical and electrophysiologic aspects in CTS patients with neuropathic complaints.