Suk-Joo Hong MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sun Hwa Hong, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Chang Ho Kang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Baek Hyun Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

In-Ho Cha MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eun-Young Kang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To present and evaluate the initial clinical experiences of ultrasound-guided perineural steroid injection for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

From April 2009 to April 2010, we performed ultrasound-guided perineural steroid injection for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome in 16 cases of 10 patients. There were 9 female and 1 male patients with mean age of 54.2 years-old (range 33 ~ 72 years). Three were 6 patients with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. All patients were diagnosed by clinical symptoms/ signs and by eledctrodiagnostic examination, and the duration of symptom was between 3 to 120 months (mean 23.6 months) before injection. Longitudinal proximal-to-distal needle insertion was done under real time ultrasound guidance by 1 musculoskeletal radiologist. Perineural steroid injection was done along the outer epineurium and adjacent connective tissue of the median nerves. Less than total 1.5mL steroid mixture (1mL 40mg Triamcinolon + 0.5mL 0.25% Ropivacaine) was injected into each median nerve.

Nine of 10 patients (90%) showed symptom improvement after ultrasound-guided perineural steroid injection. One patient showed no interval change in the symptom after injection. The duration of symptom-improved/ free period after injection was between 6 weeks to 14 months (mean 25 weeks). Three patients (30%) showed symptom recurrence in 6 to 16 weeks (mean 12 weeks) after injection. There was no complication.

Ultrasound may be used efficiently in the guidance of perineural steroid injection for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. And radiologist can perform easily the ultrasound-guided perineural steroid injection for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Radiologists can do treat the patients with carpal tunnel syndrome by doing perineural steroid injection under ultrasound guidance, efficiently.

Hong, S, Hong, S, Kang, C, Kim, B, Cha, I, Kang, E, Ultrasound-guided Perineural Steroid Injection for the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Initial Experience.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11013542.html