A Norwegian Trial Comparing Treatment Strategies for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) causes numbness and pain in the hand and arm, and is an important cause of work absence and disability. The aim of the NOR-CACTUS Trial is to compare outcomes of a treatment strategy where the initial treatment is up to two ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections, followed by scheduled clinical assessment of treatment effect, and subsequent surgery if needed, to a treatment strategy where surgery is the first-line treatment. Participants will be randomized to one of the treatment strategies, and followed up for two years after start of the study intervention. Outcomes will include patient-reported, clinical, functional and neurophysiological measures, and health-economic aspects. The hypothesis of the study is that there is no difference between the two treatment groups in the percentage of patients with a satisfactory symptom relief (treatment success) one year after the initial therapeutic intervention.

NCT Number	NCT05306548
Lead Sponsor	Diakonhjemmet Hospital Collaborators: Oslo University Hospital, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, University Hospital, Akershus
Conditions	Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Enrollment	258 participants
Start Date	2022-04-08
Primary Completion	2027-03 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-03 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-03-27