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Updated: Nov 21, 2025
Metacarpal Small Incision for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Published on: April 5, 2024
Comparison of use of plaster casting versus elastic bandage following carpal tunnel release: a randomized controlled
Johannes Svegard1, Astrid Nordvall Persson, Christina Zetterlund
1Department of Orthopaedics, Eksjö, Region Jönköping County and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Objective:
To compare the effects of two postoperative regimens following carpal tunnel release; plaster casting and elastic bandaging.
Design:
A randomized controlled study.
Patients:
Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and planned surgical carpal tunnel release were invited to participate.
Methods:
A total of 94 patients were randomized to either plaster casting or elastic bandaging to be used 2 weeks postoperatively. Muscle strength, pain rated on a visual analogue scale, range of movement, sensibility, oedema, and different scores regarding symptoms and function were measured before and 2, 4, 6, 8 and 26 weeks after surgery.
Results:
No differences were found between the 2 groups for any measurement, except for the DASH (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) Health Score and daily function, rated 2 weeks postoperatively, in which the bandage group scored better. Both groups improved significantly over time for all measurements, sensibility was improved after 2 weeks, while strength was not fully recovered until week 26.
Conclusion:
Following carpal tunnel release no benefits were found in using plaster casting, compared with elastic bandaging. Among these patients there was more discomfort during plaster casting compared with elastic bandaging; therefore plaster casting is not recommended following this type of surgery.
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