Comparing the effectiveness of splint use and splint use plus paraffin bath among patient with carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel at the wrist level. Neuropathic pain and paresthesia in the innervation area of the median nerve in the hand are the main symptoms observed in CTS. The aim of this study is to investigate whether paraffin bath treatment provides additional benefit to the use of splints in patients with CTS or not. Sixty mild and moderate patients diagnosed with CTS electrophysiologically were included in the study. Patients were randomized into two groups. Splint therapy was prescribed to both groups to be used at night for 3 months. In addition to splint treatment, paraffin bath treatment was given to the second group for three weeks. Clinical and electrophysiological evaluations performed before the treatment were repeated at the 3rd week and 3rd month. In clinical evaluation, Tinel and Phalen tests, sensory examination, hand grip muscle strength measured by dynanometer, visual analog scale (VAS) and Boston carpal tunnel syndrome questionnaire were used. Sensory and motor nerve conduction studies of the median and ulnar nerves were performed electrophysiologically. As a result of our study, a statistically significant difference was observed in clinical and electrophysiological recovery in both groups. However, in the group treated with paraffin bath; The improvement observed in VAS, Boston Functional Capacity Score (FKS), hand grip muscle strength, median sensory distal latency and median sensory velocity were statistically significantly higher than in the splint group alone. As a result, the application of paraffin bath treatment in addition to the wrist splint in patients with mild and moderate CTS resulted in more electrophysiological and clinical improvement.