Ultrasound therapy adds no benefit to splinting in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Introduction: Therapeutic ultrasound has been suggested as a treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), but existing trial evidence is of poor quality and inconclusive.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlled trial of therapeutic ultrasound in mild to moderate CTS. Forty patients were treated with wrist splints plus either real or sham therapeutic ultrasound and followed for 1 year posttreatment.