Cochrane · systematic review · CD010003
Splinting for carpal tunnel syndrome
Karjalainen, TV, Lusa, V, Page, MJ, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2023 · Cochrane Library
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
7
current version
GRADE rated
6
No studies
0
Included studies
NR
No studies 0 · 0%Ungraded 1 · 14.3%Very low 2 · 28.6%Low 4 · 57.1%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Questions and results
Current version onlySPLINT compared to NO ACTIVE TREATMENT for carpal tunnel syndrome
Population: carpal tunnel syndrome
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
CTS symptoms (Boston CTS questionnaire) ‐ short‐term improvement: < 3 monthsScale: 1 to 5, higher is worse SPLINT vs NO ACTIVE TREATMENT | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 306 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, inconsistency |
CTS symptoms (Boston CTS questionnaire) ‐ long‐term improvement: > 3 monthsScale: 1 to 5, higher is worse SPLINT vs NO ACTIVE TREATMENT | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 144 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Function (Boston CTS questionnaire) ‐ long‐term improvement: > 3 monthsScale: 1 to 5, higher is worse SPLINT vs NO ACTIVE TREATMENT | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 34 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Overall improvement (improved/not improved or worsened) ‐ short‐term improvement: < 3 months SPLINT vs NO ACTIVE TREATMENT | RR 3.86 [2.29, 6.51] | 1 study · 80 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Health‐related quality of life ‐ long‐term improvement: > 3 months SPLINT vs NO ACTIVE TREATMENT | no estimate extracted | 0 studies · 0 participants | Ungraded |
Adverse effects SPLINT vs NO ACTIVE TREATMENT | RR 15 [0.89, 254.13] | 1 study · 80 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Referral for surgery SPLINT vs NO ACTIVE TREATMENT | RR 0.47 [0.14, 1.58] | 3 studies · 243 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Splint versus no treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome
Population: People with carpal tunnel syndrome
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Short‐term overall improvement (3 months or less) Splint vs no treatment | RR 3.86 [2.29, 6.51] | 1 study · 80 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Adverse effects (difficulty falling asleep) Splint vs no treatment | RR 7 [0.37, 131.28] | 1 study · 80 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Short‐term improvement in CTS symptoms (Levine questionnaire) (3 months or less) Scale: 0 to 5 Splint vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Short‐term improvement in functional status (Levine questionnaire) (3 months or less) Scale: 0 to 5 Splint vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Short‐term improvement in distal motor latency (ms) (3 months or less) Splint vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Short‐term improvement in sensory nerve conduction velocity (m/s) (3 months or less) Splint vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Short‐term improvement in sensory nerve action potential (µV) (3 months or less) Splint vs no treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 80 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |