When Is It Safe to Operate After Therapeutic Carpal Tunnel Injections?

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-9-2021

Publication Title

Hand (N Y)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest increased complications when surgery closely follows corticosteroid injection. The purpose of this study was to understand the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI), wound complications, and reoperation rates after carpal tunnel release (CTR) when corticosteroid injections were given within 180 days preoperatively.

METHODS: Data were collected from the Truven MarketScan database from 2009 to 2018. Cohorts were created based on preoperative timing of injection (

RESULTS: Overall, 223 899 patients underwent CTR. Of these, 17 391 (7.76%) had a preoperative injection in the 180 days preceding surgery. Univariate analysis demonstrated a relationship between timing of injections and noninfectious wound complications (

CONCLUSION: Our study suggests increased risk of SSI, wound complications, and 1-year reoperation when corticosteroid injections are administered in the 30-day preoperative period. In addition, multiple steroid injections may increase the risk of 1-year reoperation.

Volume

Online ahead of print

First Page

15589447211017229

Last Page

15589447211017229

DOI

10.1177/15589447211017229

ISSN

1558-9455

PubMed ID

34105384

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