Comparison of Effects of Prefabricated Soft Wrist Orthosis and Conventional Wrist Thermoplastic Splint on Symptoms of Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

ABSTRACT Introduction The aim of this study was to examine the short-term effectiveness of a prefabricated wrist orthosis compared with a custom-made wrist orthosis and its long-term effectiveness on alleviating carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms. Materials and Methods A total of 109 patients with mild and moderate CTS were prescribed with either a prefabricated wrist or a custom-made wrist orthosis, and the changes in their mean scores on the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptom Severity Scale (CTSSSS) at baseline and the eighth week follow-up. The changes in CTSSSS scores of those prescribed with the prefabricated wrist orthosis were compared with the 32nd week postintervention. Results Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant effect at both mean CTSSSS and subscale scores ( P < 0.001). Both prefabricated wrist orthosis (n = 88) and custom-made wrist orthosis (n = 21) were shown to alleviate CTS symptoms at the first follow-up. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant differences after the long-term application of the prefabricated wrist orthosis (n = 62) in terms of CTSSSS score, daytime numbness, nighttime numbness, and nocturnal awakening ( P = 0.005–0.029). Clinical Relevance Along with the conventional thermoplastic splint, the prefabricated soft wrist orthosis could serve as an appropriate alternative to alleviate neurological symptoms of CTS due to its better long-term compliance.