PRP as Adjuvant Treatment to CTR for Severe CTS Tunnel Syndrome

April 9, 2026 updated by: Michael Fredericson, MD

Utilizing Platelet-Rich Plasma as an Adjuvant to Carpal Tunnel Release for Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

This study assesses the potential benefit of adjuvant platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with carpal tunnel release (CTR) for patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). CTR is a rather common procedure performed and seems to be quite effective for those with moderate CTS, but a number of patients with severe CTS do not have quite the same response post-CTR. The investigators will recruit patients who fall into the severe CTS category and compare CTR with and without adjuvant PRP to see if PRP can improve outcomes of this common surgery.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Terminated

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

  1. Study team recruits patients with severe CTS who meet inclusion and exclusion criteria in an outpatient hand surgery clinic. Patients will be consented by the research team if the patient agrees to participate in the research study.
  2. This will be a single blinded study, and participants will have an equal chance to be placed in either group. Participants will be randomized using permuted block randomization predetermined by our dedicated orthopedic biostatistician into two study groups: those that undergo CTR with adjuvant intra-operative PRP and those that undergo CTR without adjuvant PRP. All participants will have a pre-operative electromyography/nerve conduction study (EMG/NCS).
  3. Primary outcome measures (BCTQ and grip strength), and secondary outcome measures (PROMIS; 2 point discrimination - thumb, index finger and middle finger; key pinch; 3 finger pinch; and EMG/NCS results) will be collected and stored in REDCap at initial visit. BCTQ and PROMIS will actually be available online for patient to complete at the patient's convenience.
  4. Patients will undergo CTR with or without adjuvant PRP (based on assigned study group). Patients will not know which group the subject is in (single blinded).
  5. BCTQ and PROMIS will be collected online at 3 months and 6 months post-operatively. EMG/NCS will only be performed preoperatively and at 6 months post-operatively in the Sports Medicine clinic. At the 6-month visit, the investigators will also collect data on 2 point discrimination, grip strength, key pinch, and 3 finger pinch.
  6. The investigators will store data in REDCap.
  7. Data will be analyzed with the assistance of our biostatistician, and results will be written up.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
15

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Redwood City, California, United States, 94063
        • Stanford University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Adult age 18 years and up.
  2. Diagnosed with severe CTS based on EMG/NCS, meaning those with evidence of axonal loss (absent or low amplitude median sensory nerve action potential and/or absent or low amplitude median motor nerve action potential and/or evidence of abnormal spontaneous activity, reduced recruitment, or motor unit action potential changes on needle EMG of median innervated muscles).

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Younger than age 18 years (minor status).
  2. Diagnosed with concomitant peripheral neuropathy.
  3. Previous CTR on the affected side.
  4. Have contraindications to PRP (platelet dysfunction syndrome, critical thrombocytopenia, hemodynamic instability, septicemia, local infection at site of procedure, consistent use of NSAIDs within 48 hours of procedure, steroid injection at treatment site within 1 month, systemic use of steroids within 2 weeks, tobacco use, recent fever or illness, or cancer).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: CTR with PRP
Carpal tunnel release with adjuvant platelet-rich plasma.
Device: Carpal Tunnel Release with Platelet-Rich Plasma
CTR is performed with adjuvant PRP placed intra-operatively.
Placebo Comparator: CTR without PRP
Carpal tunnel release without adjuvant platelet-rich plasma.
Procedure: Carpal Tunnel Release without Platelet-Rich Plasma
CTR is performed without adjuvant PRP placed intra-operatively.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Grip Strength
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
Measured with a dynamometer.
up to 1 month pre-op
Grip Strength
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
Measured with a dynamometer.
6 months post-op
Number of Participants With Severe or Very Severe Symtoms as Measured by the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
Patient-reported questionnaire that examines symptom severity and overall functional status of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms are rated on a 5 point Likert scale. 1 = Minimal 2 = Mild 3 = Moderate 4 = Severe 5 = Very Severe.
up to 1 month pre-op
Number of Participants With Severe or Very Severe Symtoms as Measured by the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire
Time Frame: 3 months post-op
Patient-reported questionnaire that examines symptom severity and overall functional status of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms are rated on a 5 point Likert scale. 1 = Minimal 2 = Mild 3 = Moderate 4 = Severe 5 = Very Severe.
3 months post-op
Number of Participants With Severe or Very Severe Symtoms as Measured by the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
Patient-reported questionnaire that examines symptom severity and overall functional status of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms are rated on a 5 point Likert scale. 1 = Minimal 2 = Mild 3 = Moderate 4 = Severe 5 = Very Severe.
6 months post-op

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Key Pinch
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
Measured with a pinch meter.
up to 1 month pre-op
3 Finger Pinch
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
Measured with a pinch meter.
up to 1 month pre-op
Median Motor Latency
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
From EMG/NCS data.
up to 1 month pre-op
Median Motor Amplitude
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
From EMG/NCS data.
up to 1 month pre-op
Median Sensory Latency
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
From EMG/NCS data.
up to 1 month pre-op
Median Sensory Amplitude
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
From EMG/NCS data.
up to 1 month pre-op
Key Pinch
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
Measured with a pinch meter.
6 months post-op
3 Finger Pinch
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
Measured with a pinch meter.
6 months post-op
Median Motor Latency
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
From EMG/NCS data.
6 months post-op
Median Motor Amplitude
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
From EMG/NCS data.
6 months post-op
Median Sensory Latency
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
From EMG/NCS data.
6 months post-op
Median Sensory Amplitude
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
From EMG/NCS data.
6 months post-op
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
A computer-adaptive test was developed to improve precision and reduce question burden for upper-extremity conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The PROMIS measures self-reported function using a 5-point scale (higher score indicates better function) and produces standardized T-scores based on the general U.S. population with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. T-score ranges from 20 to 80, with higher T-scores indicating better upper-extremity function.
up to 1 month pre-op
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
Time Frame: 3 months post-op
A computer-adaptive test was developed to improve precision and reduce question burden for upper-extremity conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The PROMIS measures self-reported function using a 5-point scale (higher score indicates better function) and produces standardized T-scores based on the general U.S. population with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. T-score ranges from 20 to 80, with higher T-scores indicating better upper-extremity function.
3 months post-op
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
A computer-adaptive test was developed to improve precision and reduce question burden for upper-extremity conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. The PROMIS measures self-reported function using a 5-point scale (higher score indicates better function) and produces standardized T-scores based on the general U.S. population with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. T-score ranges from 20 to 80, with higher T-scores indicating better upper-extremity function.
6 months post-op
2 Point Discrimination at Thumb
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
Count of participants able or not able to discriminate between the minimal distance of 2 separate points of touch on the Thumb
up to 1 month pre-op
2 Point Discrimination at Thumb
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
Count of participants able or not able to discriminate between the minimal distance of 2 separate points of touch on the Thumb
6 months post-op
2 Point Discrimination at Index Finger
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
Count of participants able or not able to discriminate between the minimal distance of 2 separate points of touch on the Index Finger
up to 1 month pre-op
2 Point Discrimination at Index Finger
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
Count of participants able or not able to discriminate between the minimal distance of 2 separate points of touch on the Index Finger
6 months post-op
2 Point Discrimination at Middle Finger
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
Count of participants able or not able to discriminate between the minimal distance of 2 separate points of touch on the Middle Finger
up to 1 month pre-op
2 Point Discrimination at Middle Finger
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
Count of participants able or not able to discriminate between the minimal distance of 2 separate points of touch on the Middle Finger
6 months post-op
EMG of Abductor Pollicis Brevis
Time Frame: up to 1 month pre-op
From EMG/NCS data - looking at spontaneous activity with signs of denervation or reinnervation. Denervation included increased insertional activity, fibs/sharps, and decreased recruitment. Reinnervation included increased amplitude and polymorphic waves
up to 1 month pre-op
EMG of Abductor Pollicis Brevis
Time Frame: 6 months post-op
From EMG/NCS data - looking at spontaneous activity with signs of denervation or reinnervation. Denervation included increased insertional activity, fibs/sharps, and decreased recruitment. Reinnervation included increased amplitude and polymorphic waves
6 months post-op

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Michael Fredericson, MD

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Factor Medical

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 15, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 1, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 10, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 19, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 23, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 9, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 59044

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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