AAOS Issues New Treatment Guidelines for Carpal Tunne...( ROSEMONT Ill. Oct. 27 -- The Ame...),Health

ROSEMONT, Ill., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has approved and released an evidence-based clinical practice guideline on "The Treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome."

"Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, otherwise known as CTS, is among the most common disorders of the upper extremity. It affects up to ten percent of the population and is related to many factors, but is thought to be caused by increased pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel in the wrist," said Michael Keith, M.D., Chair of the AAOS work group responsible for creating the new guideline.

-- According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2005, an

estimated 3.1 million people sought help from physicians for the

treatment of CTS.

"The Academy created this clinical practice guideline to improve patient care for those suffering from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome," stated Dr. Keith. "The document serves as a point of reference and educational tool for both family practitioners and orthopaedic surgeons, streamlining possible treatment processes for this ever-so common ailment."

In June 2007, the Journal of the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) reported about 500,000 CTS surgical procedures are performed each year. The same study also reported the economic impact due to CTS is estimated to exceed $2 billion annually.

The final CTS Treatment guideline contains nine recommendations which include both operative and non-operative treatment options as well as alternative techniques. Some of the recommendations include:

-- Traditional bracing or splinting

-- Local steroid injection

-- Oral steroids

-- Ultrasound

-- Carpal tunnel release surgery

After doing a thorough analysis of the current literature, the work group found no evidence that supports the following treatments:

-- Heat therapy

-- Acupuncture

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