Effects of visual information on anxiety level and clinical parameters in ultrasonography guided carpal tunnel injections

Effects of Visual Information on Anxiety Level and Clinical Parameters in Ultrasonography Guided Carpal Tunnel Injections Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of ultrasonography (USG) using and patient education by giving visual information via USG on anxiety levels and clinical parameters in carpal tunnel injections Method: The study included 100 patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Local corticosteroid injection performed into the carpal tunnel in all patients. 2 mg betamethasone sodium phosphate and 5 mg betamethasone dipropionate combination was used as corticosteroid. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups consecutively. Group 1 had an injection and visual information by USG. Group 2 received a blinded injection without any visual information. Patients were evaluated at preinjection and finally at fourth week after injection. 93 of the participiants had completed the study (79 female and 14 male). Patients' satisfaction level due to injection procedure was graded as 'bad', 'moderate', 'good' and 'perfect'. Anxiety levels, pain and hand-grip were evaluated in pre-injection and post-injection periods by State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), visual analog scale (VAS) and hand-dynamometer respectively. VAS and hand-grip were assessed before injection and at fourth week after injection. STAI was assesed before and after injection immediately. Results: İn both of the groups VAS, STAI and hand-grip values significantly improved. Group 1 had a better improvement of VAS score than group 2 with no significant difference between groups (p>0.05). STAI scores decreased in both of the groups (p<0.05). Hand-grip values increased in both of the groups (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of STAI, hand-grip and satisfaction level related to injection procedure (p>0.05). Conclusion: İn CTS injection USG-guiding and giving visual information to patient by USG had no superiority to blinded injections on anxiety level and hand-grip but had a significant decrease of VAS score in comparison with blinded injections. İt seems to be more effective using USG-guiding in local injections for a better response of treatment.