Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy, caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist, leading to hand tingling, numbness, pain, and weakness. It is often related to repetitive hand use, pregnancy, diabetes, or inflammatory arthritis, and is a significant cause of work disability.
What's actually going on in research
Carpal tunnel release surgery reliably relieves symptoms in moderate-to-severe CTS, while splinting and corticosteroid injections are standard for milder cases. Trials are refining the comparison between open and endoscopic surgical approaches, studying whether ultrasound-guided procedures and injectable therapies such as corticosteroids or platelet-rich plasma can delay or replace surgery, and examining whether early intervention prevents the nerve damage that leads to permanent weakness.
Minimally invasive surgery
Endoscopic carpal tunnel release is being compared to traditional open surgery in trials examining recovery speed, complication rates, and long-term symptom relief across different patient populations.
Ultrasound-guided injection
Ultrasound-guided corticosteroid and platelet-rich plasma injections are in trials evaluating whether image-guided delivery improves accuracy and duration of response compared to landmark-guided injection.
Non-surgical early treatment
Trials are studying whether early aggressive splinting, activity modification, and injection therapy can prevent progression to the nerve damage that makes surgery necessary in more advanced cases.
What to know before you search
Eligibility depends on symptom severity, nerve conduction study findings, prior treatments, and occupational or pregnancy-related contributing factors.
What types of trials are currently open
- Surgical comparison trials — Comparing open versus endoscopic carpal tunnel release for symptom relief and recovery outcomes.
- Injection therapy trials — Evaluating corticosteroid, platelet-rich plasma, and hyaluronic acid injections with or without ultrasound guidance.
- Splinting and therapy trials — Testing splint designs, wearing schedules, and hand therapy programs to relieve mild-to-moderate CTS.
- Prevention trials — Studying ergonomic and occupational interventions to reduce CTS incidence in high-risk workers.
- Biomarker trials — Identifying nerve conduction and ultrasound measures that predict which patients will progress or respond to treatment.
Recently added Carpal Tunnel Syndrome trials
Median and Ulnar Nerve Function in Tattoo Artists
This case-control study aims to investigate the effects of occupational hand-arm vibration exposure on median and ulnar nerve functions in tattoo artists. Chronic exposure to vibration generated by tattoo machines may lead to neurosensory impairment, reduced tactile sensitivity, and decreased hand strength. Objective assessments including nerve provocation tests, sensory threshold evaluation, two-point discrimination, vibration perception, grip and pinch strength measurements, and validated patient-reported outcome questionnaires will be used. Findings will be compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
Comparing Efficacy of Osteopathic Manipulation vs. Wrist Immobilization for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) can be defined as disruption of the median nerve and is characterized by pain, numbness and tingling of the lateral 3.5 digits of the hand. In severe cases, motor function can also be disrupted. There are many factors that can contribute to the development of CTS: inflammation, compression, bony abnormality, mechanical injury, or certain lifestyle choices. Abnormalities have been proven to be tangibly visible with ultrasound in prior research projects in the form of decreased cross sectional area of the carpal tunnel, flattening of the median nerve, retinacular bowing and increased median nerve intensity. Although CTS has proven to be multifactorial, the standard of care for patients with CTS has historically been wrist immobilization and/or surgical release by endoscopic or open approach. This is despite evidence that osteopathic manipulation techniques have been effective in improving quality of life for patients with CTS. Patients will not be harmed if they are not bracing, as standard of care may include multiple things: bracings vs. OMM vs. surgical release. Our study will take place over the course of 10 weeks. Patients who have been previously diagnosed with mild or moderate carpal tunnel syndrome by a physician previously will be randomly placed into one of two groups: osteopathic manipulative medicine or bracing. If placed in the bracing category, patients will be given a brace and asked to wear it nightly. If placed in the osteopathic manipulative medicine category, patients will be asked to present to the clinic one time a week for 6 weeks. Each time the patient presents to clinic, they will be treated for 30 minutes. for 30 minutes of osteopathic manipulative medicine for 6 consecutive weeks. At the first presentation, patients will obtain a magnetic resonance image of the affected wrist, from which a cross sectional area will be determined. Repeat magnetic resonance image will be obtained at the conclusion of treatment. Additionally, at the first presentation, 3 weeks into the study, at the end of the study and 4 weeks after the study is completed, each subject will complete the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire. Descriptive and repeated measures statistical analysis will be performed.
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