INSTINCTS

Chief Investigator:

 

Principal Investigator:

 

Study Co-ordinator:

 

Funder name / reference number: Arthritis Research UK Reference Number 20105
UKCRN Study portfolio: ISRCTN: 09392969, UKCRN: 16390
Year Sept 2012 - Jan 2019

Study design

A randomised, multicentre, primary-care based, open label, parallel group pragmatic trial of local steroid injection versus night splinting in adults aged 18 years and over with a clinical diagnosis of mild to moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

Primary objective

The primary objective of this trial is to investigate whether corticosteroid injection is effective in reducing symptoms and improving hand function in mild to moderate CTS over 6 weeks when compared with night splints. Secondary objectives are to determine specified comparative clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness of corticosteroid injection over 6 and 24 months.

Interventions

To investigate whether a steroid injection is clinically effective in reducing symptoms and improving function in the short term (6 weeks) compared to a night splint in people consulting with mild to moderate CTS in primary care.

Participants will be randomised on an equal basis to receive either one injection of 20mg Depo-Medrone (corticosteroid) at trial or a resting night splint to be worn for 6 weeks.

Download the BSSH Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Clinical Guidelines (2012)