Wrist Splinting versus a Placebo Soft Bandage for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Key Points

• To compare the effectiveness of wrist splinting versus a placebo bandage in alleviating symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Randomized assignment of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome to either a rigid wrist splint or a placebo soft bandage.
• Assessment of symptom scores after a 12-week treatment period.
• Follow-up on the proportion of patients undergoing surgery within one year after treatment.
• No significant difference in symptom scores between the wrist splint and placebo groups after 12 weeks.
• Similar rates of surgery within one year between both treatment groups.