Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41503721›Full record

Trial reportAnnals of neurology2026

Conditioning Electrical Stimulation for Patients with Moderate or Severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Double Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

Yusuke Osaki, Jaret L Olson, Michael J Morhart, Matthew W Curran, Douglas W Zochodne, K Ming Chan, Central and Northern Alberta Peripheral Nerve Injury Research Consortium

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Annals of neurology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Beneficially Stressing the Peripheral Nervous System to Repair.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Yusuke OsakiDepartment of Neurology, Tokushima University, Tokushima City, Japan.ORCID 0000-0001-6588-5442
Jaret L OlsonDivision of Plastic Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Michael J MorhartDivision of Plastic Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Matthew W CurranDivision of Plastic Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Douglas W ZochodneDivision of Neurology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-1692-5983
K Ming ChanDivision of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-6904-1420
Central and Northern Alberta Peripheral Nerve Injury Research Consortium

Funding

Canadian Institutes for Health Research CIHR PS 162281University Hospital Foundation Chan 2019
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveCarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can drastically impair one's ability to work and interferes with activities of daily living. We recently demonstrated that, in rodents, conditioning electrical stimulation (CES) delivered to the nerve 7 days prior to surgery imparts a conditioning lesion-like effect by accelerating the rate of regeneration along the entire length of the nerve. The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that CES could accelerate nerve regeneration and improve function in patients with moderate or severe CTS.

methodsUsing a double-blind randomized controlled study design, patients received surgery + CES or surgery + sham stimulation. They were evaluated at regular intervals for 12 months following intervention. Primary outcome was motor unit number estimation (MUNE), supplemented with secondary outcomes including motor and sensory nerve conduction studies, Semmes Weinstein Monofilaments, and Moberg Pick-Up Test.

resultsSixty-four participants were randomized to either the treatment or control groups. There was no significant demographic or physiological difference at baseline between the groups. No major adverse event was found with treatment. Following intervention, there was significantly greater increase in MUNE of 62 ± 71 in the treatment group compared to 25 ± 66 in the controls after 12 months. In the treatment group, there was correspondingly better physiological and functional recovery and hand dexterity compared with the controls.

interpretationCES is a safe, feasible, and efficacious treatment to improve nerve reinnervation and functional outcomes in patients with moderate or severe CTS. This may open future possibilities for more effective treatment for other peripheral nerve injuries. ANN NEUROL 2026;99:1251-1262.

Indexed as

Carpal Tunnel SyndromeElectric Stimulation TherapyNerve RegenerationAdultAgedDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNerve Conduction StudiesNeural ConductionSeverity of Illness IndexTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID41503721
PMCPMC13092794

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.