SynthesisMedicine2025
Clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided needle knife therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- A Mechanism-Based Classification and Review of Endoscopic and Ultrasound-Guided Carpal Tunnel Release.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Comparison of ultrasound-guided needle-knife release of the transverse carpal ligament with glucocorticoid injection in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized trial.Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery · 2026Article
- Ultrasound-guided acupotomy: a paradigm shift toward precision and safety in carpal tunnel syndrome therapy.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundUltrasound-guided needle-knife therapy has emerged as a widely adopted and clinically effective intervention for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), demonstrating significant therapeutic outcomes in clinical practice. However, there is currently a notable lack of systematic reviews and meta-analyses evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of ultrasound-guided needle-knife therapy in the management of CTS. Systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided needle-knife therapy in improving CTS symptoms, wrist function, nerve conduction, ultrasonic detection index, and clinical cure rate.
methodsA PICO (Population [study participants], Intervention [exposure or treatment], Comparison [control intervention], and Outcome [key study outcomes]) search strategy was used to identify randomized controlled trials applying ultrasound-guided needle-knife therapy on patients with CTS. Methodology quality and risk of bias were assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration. Outcomes assessed were pain intensity, wrist function, nerve conduction, ultrasonic detection index, clinical effective rate, and clinical cure rate.
resultsSeventeen studies involving 996 patients were finally included. Test for overall effect using a random effects model showed that ultrasound-guided needle-knife therapy significant improving pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale) (mean difference [MD] = 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.13 to -0.55, P < .00001, I2 = 85%), wrist function (standardized mean difference = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.59 to -0.84, P < .00001; I2 = 80%), nerve sensory conduction (sensory conduction velocity) (MD = 3.32, 95% CI: 2.38-4.25, P < .00001; I2 = 54%), nerve motor conduction (distal motor latency) (MD = -0.46, 95% CI: -0.64 to -0.28, P < .00001; I2 = 80%), ultrasonic detection indicators (cross-section area) (MD = -1.88, 95% CI: -3.14 to -0.62, P =.03; I2 = 96%), and thickness of the transverse carpal ligament (MD = -0.68, 95% CI: -1.20 to -0.15, P < .00001; I2 = 94%), clinical effective rate (MD = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.09-1.20, P < .00001; I2 = 46%), and clinical cure rate (MD = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.42-2.00, P < .00001; I2 = 46%) compared with those of the CTS patients in the control group.
conclusionsThis study highlights that ultrasound-guided needle-knife technology has significant effectiveness on pain, wrist function, nerve conduction, ultrasonic detection indicators (cross-section area, thickness of the transverse carpal ligament), clinical effective rate, and clinical cure rate for patients with CTS.
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