Can a blood injection boost carpal tunnel surgery results?
NCT ID NCT04811287
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether adding platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to standard carpal tunnel release surgery helps people with severe carpal tunnel syndrome. The trial planned to enroll 15 adults with severe nerve damage. It compared surgery with PRP to surgery alone. The study was terminated early, so no firm conclusions can be drawn.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a way to improve recovery from carpal tunnel surgery for people with severe symptoms.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small, terminated trial with only 15 participants, so results are not reliable. PRP may not provide any extra benefit over surgery alone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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15 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Oct 2021
- Finished
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Jul 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
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).
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Stanford University
Redwood City, California, 94063, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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