Effectiveness of Low Level Laser in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of common peripheral nerve disorder which involves an entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve at the wrist which occurs either due to primary idiopathic cause or secondary to systemic causes. The diagnosis of CTS is clinical and supported by neurophy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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College of Medicine University of Baghdad
2012-10-01
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| Series: | مجلة كلية الطب |
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| Online Access: | http://iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/725 |
| _version_ | 1797369573306007552 |
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| author | Shawqi J. Abid Ali Isra’a F. Ja’afar Zeki N. Hasan |
| author_facet | Shawqi J. Abid Ali Isra’a F. Ja’afar Zeki N. Hasan |
| author_sort | Shawqi J. Abid Ali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of common peripheral nerve disorder which involves an entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve at the wrist which occurs either due to primary idiopathic cause or secondary to systemic causes. The diagnosis of CTS is clinical and supported by neurophysiological analysis. Surgical intervention is the main treatment modality.
Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of low level laser therapy (LLLT) to treat mild – moderate CTS cases.
Pateients and methods: The study involves 60 symptomatic patients complaining of CTS were divided into two groups. Group A was subjected to real LLLT by Gallium – Arsenide (Ga-As) laser (904 nm), whereas group B was subjected to sham laser. Thirty asymptomatic normal individuals as group C were subjected to real LLLT in the same protocol as that applied to CTS cases. The individuals were evaluated clinically and by nerve conduction studies (NCSs) at early time as baseline reading and immediately after the treatment and later on after two weeks from stopping the treatment sessions.
Results: LLLT showed significant pain reduction (70.9%) and improved latency and amplitude studies for sensory (16.7% and 29%, respectively) and motor (18% and 26%, respectively) median nerve fibers in patients group who were exposed to real laser therapy in comparison to sham group but normal individuals showed significant increment in motor amplitude (12%) after completing therapy sessions. Conduction velocity and minimal F wave latency studies did not show significant changes in all study groups.
Conclusion: LLLT is proved to be an effective, easy, handy, relatively safe, and noninvasive treatment modality for idiopathic CTS of mild – moderate severity. Broadening the spectrum of wavelengths and changing the power density and energy doses and enrolment of cases which has already been treated surgically still a hopeful view of using LLLT in CTS treatment for further investigations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:48:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-21cedf34619e49af9674cfd065ae2006 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0041-9419 2410-8057 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:48:50Z |
| publishDate | 2012-10-01 |
| publisher | College of Medicine University of Baghdad |
| record_format | Article |
| series | مجلة كلية الطب |
| spelling | doaj.art-21cedf34619e49af9674cfd065ae20062024-01-02T09:26:46ZengCollege of Medicine University of Baghdadمجلة كلية الطب0041-94192410-80572012-10-0154310.32007/jfacmedbagdad.v3234-238%Effectiveness of Low Level Laser in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel SyndromeShawqi J. Abid Ali0Isra’a F. Ja’afar1Zeki N. Hasan2Department of Basic Sciences, Dentistry College, Al Mustansiriyah University.Department of Physiology, Medical College, Baghdad University.Department of Neurology, Al-Kindi Medical College, Baghdad. University.Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of common peripheral nerve disorder which involves an entrapment neuropathy of the median nerve at the wrist which occurs either due to primary idiopathic cause or secondary to systemic causes. The diagnosis of CTS is clinical and supported by neurophysiological analysis. Surgical intervention is the main treatment modality. Objective: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of low level laser therapy (LLLT) to treat mild – moderate CTS cases. Pateients and methods: The study involves 60 symptomatic patients complaining of CTS were divided into two groups. Group A was subjected to real LLLT by Gallium – Arsenide (Ga-As) laser (904 nm), whereas group B was subjected to sham laser. Thirty asymptomatic normal individuals as group C were subjected to real LLLT in the same protocol as that applied to CTS cases. The individuals were evaluated clinically and by nerve conduction studies (NCSs) at early time as baseline reading and immediately after the treatment and later on after two weeks from stopping the treatment sessions. Results: LLLT showed significant pain reduction (70.9%) and improved latency and amplitude studies for sensory (16.7% and 29%, respectively) and motor (18% and 26%, respectively) median nerve fibers in patients group who were exposed to real laser therapy in comparison to sham group but normal individuals showed significant increment in motor amplitude (12%) after completing therapy sessions. Conduction velocity and minimal F wave latency studies did not show significant changes in all study groups. Conclusion: LLLT is proved to be an effective, easy, handy, relatively safe, and noninvasive treatment modality for idiopathic CTS of mild – moderate severity. Broadening the spectrum of wavelengths and changing the power density and energy doses and enrolment of cases which has already been treated surgically still a hopeful view of using LLLT in CTS treatment for further investigations.http://iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/725Carpal Tunnnel Syndrome, Low Level Laser Therapy, Nerve Conduction Study, Visual Analogue Scale, Boston questionnaire. |
| spellingShingle | Shawqi J. Abid Ali Isra’a F. Ja’afar Zeki N. Hasan Effectiveness of Low Level Laser in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome مجلة كلية الطب Carpal Tunnnel Syndrome, Low Level Laser Therapy, Nerve Conduction Study, Visual Analogue Scale, Boston questionnaire. |
| title | Effectiveness of Low Level Laser in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
| title_full | Effectiveness of Low Level Laser in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of Low Level Laser in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of Low Level Laser in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
| title_short | Effectiveness of Low Level Laser in the Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome |
| title_sort | effectiveness of low level laser in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome |
| topic | Carpal Tunnnel Syndrome, Low Level Laser Therapy, Nerve Conduction Study, Visual Analogue Scale, Boston questionnaire. |
| url | http://iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/725 |
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