Hand Function Outcome After the Application of Transfer Energy Capacitive and Resistive on Post-burn Patients Presented With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Transfer Energy Capacitive and Resistive (TECAR) [ SMART TECAR }: TECAR therapy at a frequency of 0.5 MHz and intensity of 30 to 50% and medium Capacitive Energy Transfer electrode (60 mm), 5 min capacitive (CAP) and 10 min resistive (RES), The passive electrode was fixed to the dorsum of the hand while the active electrode was moved in a circular manner from the proximal carpal tunnel to the median nerve pathway of the palm in three sessions per week for two weeks

Standard Hand Rehabilitation [ US }: US using a 3 MHz probe at a dose of 1.5 watts/cm2 for 5 min intermittently for 2 weeks, 5 times a week, plus mobility and strengthening exercises

Study summary

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common entrapment neuropathy that can develop as a secondary complication following deep burns involving the hand or wrist. Post-burn CTS arises due to factors such as fibrosis, edema, and scar contracture, which may increase pressure on the median nerve within the carpal tunnel, leading to significant pain, sensory disturbances, and impaired hand function Recent studies support the effectiveness of Transfer Energy Capacitive and Resistive (TECAR ) therapy in idiopathic CTS, showing improvements in pain, symptom severity, and function, as measured by validated tools such as the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

A study reported that both TECAR and ultrasound groups showed significant symptom improvement after treatment, although ultrasound had more sustained effects on median nerve cross-sectional area at 3 months

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Symptom Severity — Baseline and 2 weeks
  The Arabic version of the BCTQ-SSS will be used to self-report symptom severity. It consists of 11 items assessing pain, numbness, paresthesia, weakness, and nocturnal symptoms. Each item is scored from 1 (never/none) to 5 (most severe). The overall score is calculated as the mean of the items, ranging from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicate worse symptom severity.
• Functional Status — Baseline and 2 weeks.
  The Arabic version of the BCTQ-FSS will be used to evaluate hand function across 8 common activities. Each activity is scored from 1 (no difficulty) to 5 (cannot perform the activity at all). The total score is the mean of the items, ranging from 1 to 5, where higher scores represent greater functional impairment.
• Grip Strength — Baseline and 2 weeks.
  Objective hand function and force production of the median nerve-innervated muscles will be measured using a Camry Digital Handgrip Dynamometer. Measurements are recorded in kilograms (kg), up to a maximum strength of 90 kg. Higher scores indicate greater hand grip strength.

Trial sites (1)

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