Gabapentin for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine whether gabapentin is safe and effective in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Detailed Description
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A variety of treatment options exist at present for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with no universal agreement. Recent reports suggested that untreated CTS might improve or remain stationary. In this respect, treatment directing towards symptom suppression alone may have a role in the initial management of CTS. Gabapentin (1-[aminomethyl]-cyclohexaneacetic acid; Neurontin, Pfizer) is an effective drug for treatment of neuropathic pain and has been reported to be effective in case series for the treatment of CTS with relatively benign side effects profile. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of gabapentin in the treatment of CTS.

Official Title
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Gabapentin for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Gabapentin
* Other: placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Sensory symptoms over median nerve distribution for more than three months. Confirmatory electrophysiologic results defined as prolonged median nerve distal motor latencies (DML) > 4 ms or median-ulnar palmer sensory latency differences > 0.5 ms. Exclusion Criteria: Patients with evidence of severe CTS: fibrillation potentials or reinnervation on needle examination of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle or clinical examination showing wastage of the thenar muscles. (These patients were referred for surgical decompression on presentation.) Clinical or electrophysiological evidence of accompanying conditions that could mimic CTS or interfere with its evaluation, such as proximal median neuropathy, cervical radiculopathy, or significant polyneuropathy. Known epilepsy. Patients who have received previous steroid injection or oral steroid therapy for CTS.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: 1<br>Gabapentin | Drug: Gabapentin<br>* 300mg tds<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: 2<br>Placebo | Other: placebo<br>* tds<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Global symptom score (GSS) recorded by a physician blinded to the allocation of treatment at 8 weeks |  | 8 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GSS at 2 weeks |  | 2 weeks | 
| Grip strength as functional assessment at 2 and 8 weeks |  | 2 weeks, 8 weeks | 
| Tolerability |  | throughout subject's participation in trial | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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carpal tunnel syndrome, gabapentin