EMLA Cream for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: How it Compares with Steroid Injection

Introduction &

A standard treatment option for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is local injection of anesthetic-corticosteroid. This clinical trial was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of daily application of the EMLA cream with that of a single injection of methyl prednisolone acetate.

This study was a clinical trial that performed in shiraz medical school clinics in 1386. 65 participants with clinical and electrodiagnostic evidences of mild to moderate CTS were randomized to receive either the EMLA cream (group 1) or one injection of methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg at wrist (group 2). Outcome assessments included the visual analog scale. variants were measured and results were collected by statistical software SPSS and analyzed and processed by Chi-Square test.

Pain intensity at baseline, after and 4 weeks after treatment in group of A was 5.8±0.98, 0.7±0.82 and 2.1± 1.2; and group of B was 5.7 ±1.0, 2.4±1.5 and 1.6±1.4 respectively (p<0.001). After and 4 weeks follow of treatment, patients in both groups reported significant changes in pain intensity (p<0.001).

EMLA cream was effective in reducing pain associated with CTS. It may offer patients with mild to moderate CTS an effective, noninvasive symptomatic treatment.