Polydeoxyribonucleotide injection in the treatment of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: Retrospective preliminary study

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroid injection is beneficial in treating carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) due to its anti-inflammatory effects. However, its side effects limit widespread usage. Recently, several studies have found that polydeoxyribonucleotide offers anti-inflammatory capabilities with fewer side effects, making it an ideal alternative. Nevertheless, there has been no study on its effectiveness in patients with CTS. Therefore, we evaluate the effectiveness of polydeoxyribonucleotide in patients with CTS. Based on the criteria, 30 patients with CTS who received two-consecutive polydeoxyribonucleotide injections (with a week interval) were initially included. METHOD: Patients with CTS were investigated retrospectively. To evaluate the effectiveness of polydeoxyribonucleotide in patients with CTS, numeric rating scale (NRS), cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve, and severity and functional status scores of CTS based on the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire (BCTQ) were assessed. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the NRS, CSA, and functional and severity scores of BCTQ after two-consecutive polydeoxyribonucleotide injections (P < .05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, although more research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of polydeoxyribonucleotide in patients with CTS, the findings here suggest that polydeoxyribonucleotide may be a viable alternative to corticosteroids in patients with CTS.