ULTRASOUND-GUIDED HYDRODISSECTION IN MEDIAN NERVE ENTRAPMENT NEUROPATHIES: DIFFERENCES IN EVIDENCE AND OUTCOMES BETWEEN CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME AND PROXIMAL COMPRESSION SITES. A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5678

Keywords:

Ultrasound-Guided Hydrodissection, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Pronator Teres Syndrome, Peripheral Nerve Entrapment, Steroid, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and 5% Dextrose

Abstract

Introduction: Ultrasound-guided hydrodissection (HD) has emerged as a promising and minimally invasive treatment for peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes, especially carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). While there is increasing evidence supporting efficacy of HD in treating CTS, its role in more proximal median nerve (MN) entrapment neuropathies, as pronator teres syndrome (PTS), has not been well established.

Purpose: The aim of this narrative review was to summarize the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided hydrodissection in median nerve entrapment neuropathies, focusing on its use in CTS and PTS.

Methodology: A narrative review of the literature was conducted using Google Scholar and PubMed, focusing on recent systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series published up to 2026 that evaluated ultrasound-guided hydrodissection in median nerve entrapments.

Conclusions: Considerable evidence supports the use of HD in CTS, with multiple randomized controlled trials demonstrating improvements in pain, symptom severity, and functional outcomes. In contrast, evidence for proximal median nerve entrapments remains limited and is restricted mostly to the case reports. Further high-quality studies are essential to establish the effectiveness of HD across different anatomical locations of median nerve compression.

References

Adler, J. A., & Wolf, J. M. (2020). Proximal median nerve compression: Pronator syndrome. The Journal of Hand Surgery, 45(12), 1157–1165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2020.07.006

Alanazy, M. H. (2017). Clinical and electrophysiological evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome: Approach and pitfalls. Neurosciences (Riyadh), 22(3), 169–180. https://doi.org/10.17712/nsj.2017.3.20160638

Annisa, D., Rianawati, S. B., Rahayu, M., Raisa, N., & Kurniawan, S. N. (2021). Carpal tunnel syndrome (diagnosis and management). Journal of Pain, Vertigo and Headache, 1, 5–7. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jphv.2021.002.01.2

Ashworth, N. L., Bland, J. D. P., Chapman, K. M., Tardif, G., Albarqouni, L., & Nagendran, A. (2023). Local corticosteroid injection versus placebo for carpal tunnel syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2023(2), CD015148. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD015148

Binsaleem, S. (2024). Median nerve entrapment neuropathy: A review on the pronator syndrome. JSES Reviews, Reports, and Techniques, 5(1), 70–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xrrt.2024.10.001

Buntragulpoontawee, M., Chang, K. V., Vitoonpong, T., Pornjaksawan, S., Kitisak, K., Saokaew, S., & Kanchanasurakit, S. (2021). The effectiveness and safety of commonly used injectates for ultrasound-guided hydrodissection treatment of peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes: A systematic review. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 621150. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.621150

Burton, C. L., Chesterton, L. S., Chen, Y., & van der Windt, D. A. (2016). Clinical course and prognostic factors in conservatively managed carpal tunnel syndrome: A systematic review. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 97(5), 836–852.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2015.09.013

Cansever, Ü., Koldaş Doğan, Ş., Erdem Toslak, İ., Bilgilisoy Filiz, M., & Toraman, N. F. (2026). Comparison of the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection and steroid injection in patients with bilateral moderate carpal tunnel syndrome: A prospective randomized controlled trial. Injury, 57(3), 113018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2026.113018

Caramori, G., Mumby, S., Girbino, G., Chung, K. F., & Adcock, I. M. (2019). Corticosteroids. In Nijkamp and Parnham’s principles of immunopharmacology (pp. 661–688). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10811-3_32

Chang, K.-V., Wu, W.-T., Hsu, P.-C., Yang, Y.-C., & Özçakar, L. (2022). Ultrasonography in pronator teres syndrome: Dynamic examination and guided hydrodissection. Pain Medicine, 23(1), 219–220. https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnab143

Chao, T. C., Reeves, K. D., Lam, K. H. S., Li, T. Y., & Wu, Y. T. (2022). The effectiveness of hydrodissection with 5% dextrose for persistent and recurrent carpal tunnel syndrome: A retrospective study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(13), 3705. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11133705

Chen, S. R., Shen, Y. P., Ho, T. Y., Li, T. Y., Su, Y. C., Chou, Y. C., Chen, L. C., & Wu, Y. T. (2021). One-year efficacy of platelet-rich plasma for moderate-to-severe carpal tunnel syndrome: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 102(5), 951–958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2020.12.025

Coutinho, A. E., & Chapman, K. E. (2011). The anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of glucocorticoids: Recent developments and mechanistic insights. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 335(1), 2–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mce.2010.04.005

Damms, N. A., McCallum, L. M., Sarrigiannis, P. G., & Zis, P. (2020). Pain as a determinant of health-related quality of life in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: A case-controlled study. Postgraduate Medicine, 132(1), 52–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.2019.1694840

Dawod, M. S., Alswerki, M. N., Alelaumi, A. F., Alqawasmi, M. S., Khasawneh, S. Y., Alrayes, B., Hamadeen, A. E., Alqudah, M., Al-Amer, K., & Khanfar, A. (2025). Patient-reported outcomes and functional recovery after carpal tunnel surgery in a developing health care system: Insights from clinical practice. Scientific Reports, 15, 34224. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16058-6

Delzell, P. B., & Patel, M. (2020). Ultrasound-guided perineural injection for pronator syndrome caused by median nerve entrapment. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, 39(5), 1023–1029. https://doi.org/10.1002/jum.15166

Dididze, M., Tafti, D., & Sherman, A. L. (2023). Pronator teres syndrome. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526090/

Elawamy, A., Hassanien, M., Talaat, E. A., Ali, A. M., Roushdy, A. S. I., & Kamel, E. Z. (2021). Intra-carpal injection of ozone versus methylprednisolone in carpal tunnel syndrome of systemic sclerosis patients: A randomized single-blind clinical trial. Pain Physician, 24(4), E453–E458. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34213870/

Eyvaz, N., Adar, S., Akçin, A. İ., Dündar, Ü., Toktaş, H., & Eroğlu, S. (2025). Comparison of ultrasound-guided hydrodissection with various volumes of 5% dextrose for carpal tunnel syndrome: A prospective randomized controlled double-blind trial. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 104(7), 596–604. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000002675

Fontes, T., Sepriano, A., Ramiro, S., Moniz, P., Furtado, C., Figueiredo, G., & Falcão, S. (2025). Diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome with ultrasound: Should we go more distal? RMD Open, 11(2), e005563. https://doi.org/10.1136/rmdopen-2025-005563

Gautam, J., Nagappa, M., Haldar, P., Khanna, M., Seshagiri, D., Shivaram, S., Viswanathan, L., & Sinha, S. (2021). Quality of life in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 429(Suppl.), 118420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2021.118420

Gebrye, T., Jeans, E., Yeowell, G., Mbada, C., & Fatoye, F. (2024). Global and regional prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome: A meta-analysis based on a systematic review. Musculoskeletal Care, 22(4), e70024. https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.70024

Geoghegan, L., Carolina, M., French, J., Harrison, C. J., & Rodrigues, J. N. (2024). Health-related quality of life in patients with conditions affecting the hand: Meta-analysis. British Journal of Surgery, 111(4), znae067. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znae067

Ghasemi-Rad, M., Nosair, E., Vegh, A., Mohammadi, A., Akkad, A., Lesha, E., Mohammadi, M. H., Sayed, D., Davarian, A., Maleki-Miyandoab, T., & Hasan, A. (2014). A handy review of carpal tunnel syndrome: From anatomy to diagnosis and treatment. World Journal of Radiology, 6(6), 284–300. https://doi.org/10.4329/wjr.v6.i6.284

Ghorbanpour, S., Abdi, M., Naeemi, N., Rahimibarghani, S., Hosseini, M., Emami Razavi, S. Z., & Azadvari, M. (2025). Hydrodissection with or without corticosteroid versus corticosteroid-only injection for carpal tunnel syndrome: Double-blind randomized controlled trial. Muscle & Nerve, 71(6), 986–994. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.28382

Güleç, G. G., & Aktaş, İ. (2023). Carpal tunnel symptoms with normal nerve conduction study findings in patients with bifid median nerve treated with ultrasound-guided 5% dextrose hydrodissection: A case series. Cureus, 15(3), e36669. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.36669

Güleç, G. G., Özmen, E., & Kokar, S. (2026). From mild to severe carpal tunnel syndrome: The role of ultrasound-guided perineural 5% dextrose injection: A prospective study. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538127261424304

Guo, K., McCool, L., Wang, H., Guo, D., & Guo, D. (2021). The modified ultrasound-guided distal-to-proximal carpal tunnel injection with median nerve hydrodissection: A retrospective safety review of 827 procedures. Hand, 16(3), 407–409. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558944719861715

Hashem, E. Y., Shamandy, F. S., Elmulla, A. F., & Mansour, M. A. (2025). Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency versus perineural platelet-rich plasma injection for the treatment of idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome: A prospective randomized controlled study. BMC Anesthesiology, 25(1), 406. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12871-025-03257-x

He, J. J., Wei, X. M., Dou, Z. L., Zhang, J. S., Wei, Z. H., Zhang, W. X., & Jiang, L. (2022). Ultrasound-guided nerve hydrodissection with 5% dextrose 4 weeks after steroid injection in treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A retrospective study. Frontiers in Neurology, 12, 782319. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.782319

Hsu, Y. C., Yang, F. C., Hsu, H. H., & Huang, G. S. (2018). Ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: Efficacy of intra-epineurial injection. Ultraschall in der Medizin, 39(3), 334–342. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-120109

Hsu, Y. C., Yang, F. C., Hsu, H. H., & Huang, G. S. (2022). Median nerve injury in ultrasound-guided hydrodissection and corticosteroid injections for carpal tunnel syndrome. Ultraschall in der Medizin, 43(2), 186–193. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1140-5717

Joshi, A., Patel, K., Mohamed, A., Oak, S., Zhang, M. H., Hsiung, H., Zhang, A., & Patel, U. K. (2022). Carpal tunnel syndrome: Pathophysiology and comprehensive guidelines for clinical evaluation and treatment. Cureus, 14(7), e27053. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.27053

Kanagasabai, K. (2022). Ultrasound of median nerve in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: Correlation with electrophysiological studies. Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging, 32(1), 16–29. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1741088

Krieger, Y., Ofri, M., Sagi, G., Moshe-Noach, H., Raiden, P., Shoham, Y., Sagi, A., Reiner Benaim, A., & Silberstein, E. (2024). Long-term functional outcomes and quality of life following carpal tunnel release surgery. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(9), 1203. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091203

Kumar, N., Chandan, S. K., Jalan, D., Sinha, S., Jaiswal, B., & Singh, D. K. (2023). Ultrasound-guided interventions in primary carpal tunnel syndrome: Perineural injection to thread carpal tunnel release. British Journal of Radiology, 96(1150), 20230552. https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.20230552

Lam, K. H. S., Hung, C. Y., Chiang, Y. P., Onishi, K., Su, D. C. J., Clark, T. B., & Reeves, K. D. (2020). Ultrasound-guided nerve hydrodissection for pain management: Rationale, methods, current literature, and theoretical mechanisms. Journal of Pain Research, 13, 1957–1968. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S247208

Li, T. Y., Chen, S. R., Shen, Y. P., Chang, C. Y., Su, Y. C., Chen, L. C., & Wu, Y. T. (2021). Long-term outcome after perineural injection with 5% dextrose for carpal tunnel syndrome: A retrospective follow-up study. Rheumatology, 60(2), 881–887. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keaa361

Lin, M. T., Liao, C. L., Hsiao, M. Y., Hsueh, H. W., Chao, C. C., & Wu, C. H. (2020). Volume matters in ultrasound-guided perineural dextrose injection for carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized, double-blinded, three-arm trial. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 625830. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.625830

Malek, N., Pajak, A., Kolosowska, N., Kucharczyk, M., & Starowicz, K. (2015). The importance of TRPV1-sensitisation factors for the development of neuropathic pain. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 65, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcn.2015.02.001

Mathieu, T., Lemmens, E., & Stassijns, G. (2022). A safe and easy-to-use ultrasound-guided hydrodissection technique for the carpal tunnel syndrome: A minimally invasive approach. Journal of Ultrasound, 25(3), 451–455. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-021-00597-5

Murphy, K. A., Ryan, N., & Fakoya, A. O. (2025). Anatomy, shoulder and upper limb, median nerve. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448084/

Nishimaki, Y., Kawabata, M., Yamazaki, A., & Iwamoto, W. (2025). Symptom improvement in a patient with chronic pronator teres syndrome treated with ultrasound-guided hydrodissection and manual therapy: A case report. Cureus, 17(11), e95978. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.95978

Osiak, K., Elnazir, P., Walocha, J. A., & Pasternak, A. (2022). Carpal tunnel syndrome: State-of-the-art review. Folia Morphologica, 81(4), 851–862. https://doi.org/10.5603/FM.a2021.0121

Panwar, A., Roy, U., Srivastava, A. K., Surange, P. N., & Gupta, P. (2024). Enhancing nerve function and reviving the unrecordable: A comprehensive analysis of the effects of a dual hydrodissection protocol on clinical and nerve conduction parameters in mild-moderate and severe carpal tunnel syndrome. Cureus, 16(12), e75681. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.75681

Podlasińska, M., Landfald, I. C., Adamczyk, Z., Szewczyk, B., & Olewnik, Ł. (2025). The pronator teres muscle revisited: Morphological classification, neurovascular entrapment, and surgical implications. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(21), 7474. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm142

Pokharel, S., Silwal, S., Shrestha, P., & Neupane, K. (2024). Ultrasound guided hydrodissection of median nerve with the use of 5% dextrose in carpal tunnel syndrome: A case report. JNMA: Journal of the Nepal Medical Association, 62(277), 611–613. https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.8751

Rałowska-Gmoch, W., Hajzyk, M., Matyskieła, T., Łabuz-Roszak, B., & Dziadkowiak, E. (2025). The diagnostic pitfalls in the pronator teres syndrome: A case report. Neurology International, 17(10), 169. https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint17100169

Roghani, A. S., Farooq, J., Ullah, W., Roghani, F. S., Ahmad, B., Jan, A. A., Siddique, N., & Shahzad, F. (2025). Diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination for carpal tunnel syndrome: Validation using nerve conduction studies. Cureus, 17(7), e87563. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.87563

Roghani, S., Holisaz, M. T., Tarkashvand, M., Delbari, A., Gohari, F., Boon, A. J., & Lokk, J. (2018). Different doses of steroid injection in elderly patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: A triple-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 13, 117–124. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S151290

Savage, N. J., & Albano, J. (2020). Marrying tendon and nerve gliding exercises with hydrodissection following injection for carpal tunnel syndrome—A new treatment approach? Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports, 10(9), 38–46. https://doi.org/10.13107/jocr.2020.v10.i09.1896

Schrier, V. J. M. M., Brault, J. S., & Amadio, P. C. (2020). Ultrasound-guided hydrodissection with corticosteroid injection in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A pilot study. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, 39(9), 1759–1768. https://doi.org/10.1002/jum.15279

Senna, M. K., Shaat, R. M., & Ali, A. A. A. (2019). Platelet-rich plasma in treatment of patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. Clinical Rheumatology, 38(12), 3643–3654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-019-04719-7

Sevy, J. O., Sina, R. E., & Varacallo, M. A. (2023). Carpal tunnel syndrome. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448179/

Shojaie, P., Botchu, R., Iyengar, K., Drakonaki, E., & Sharma, G. K. (2023). Ultrasound-guided median nerve hydrodissection of pronator teres syndrome: A case report and a literature review. Journal of Ultrasonography, 23(94), e165–e169. https://doi.org/10.15557/jou.2023.0026

Siahaan, Y. M. T. (2021). Dextrose hydrodissection with ultrasound-guided as optional therapy in pronator teres syndrome: A case report. Journal of Clinical Case Reports and Studies, 3(3). https://doi.org/10.31579/2690-8808/078

Siahaan, Y. M. T. (2023). Effectiveness of ultrasound-guided perineural hydro-dissection with 5% dextrose for pronator teres syndrome: A case series. Anaesthesia, Pain & Intensive Care, 27(5), 607–613. https://doi.org/10.35975/apic.v27i5.2318

Sveva, V., Farì, G., Fai, A., Savina, A., Viva, M. G., Agostini, F., Ranieri, M., Megna, M., Mangone, M., Paoloni, M., & Bernetti, A. (2024). Safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided perineural hydrodissection as a minimally invasive treatment in carpal tunnel syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 14(2), 154. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm14020154

Tüfekçi, A., & Boz, C. (2022). Electrophysiological evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome. Archives of Medical Science. https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms/153468

Türkyolu, E., Bugdayci, D., Akgun, N., & Kalaoglu, E. (2026). Short-term effectiveness of 5% dextrose injection with ultrasound-guided nerve hydrodissection method in carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized controlled study. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538127261420591

Tulipan, J. E., & Ilyas, A. M. (2020). Carpal tunnel syndrome surgery: What you should know. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open, 8(3), e2692. https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000002692

Wang, J. C., Hsu, P. C., Wang, K. A., & Chang, K. V. (2021). Ultrasound-guided triamcinolone acetonide hydrodissection for carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Medicine, 8, 742724. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.742724

Wielemborek, P. T., Kapica-Topczewska, K., Pogorzelski, R., Bartoszuk, A., Kochanowicz, J., & Kułakowska, A. (2022). Carpal tunnel syndrome conservative treatment: A literature review. Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii, 31(2), 85–94. https://doi.org/10.5114/ppn.2022.116880

Wu, Y. T., Lam, K. H. S., Lai, C. Y., Chen, S. R., Shen, Y. P., Su, Y. C., Li, T. Y., & Wu, C. H. (2022). Novel motor-sparing ultrasound-guided neural injection in severe carpal tunnel syndrome: A comparison of four injectates. BioMed Research International, 2022, 9745322. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9745322

Downloads

Published

2026-06-24

How to Cite

Rządzińska, N., Błoch, A. M., Fimiarz, K. J. ., Kłosowicz, A. K. ., Pakulska, A. O. ., Miller, M. A. ., & Kamińska, A. J. . (2026). ULTRASOUND-GUIDED HYDRODISSECTION IN MEDIAN NERVE ENTRAPMENT NEUROPATHIES: DIFFERENCES IN EVIDENCE AND OUTCOMES BETWEEN CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME AND PROXIMAL COMPRESSION SITES. A NARRATIVE REVIEW. International Journal of Innovative Technologies in Social Science, 5(2(50). https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5678

Most read articles by the same author(s)