Introduction:

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by compression of the median nerve as it travels through the carpal tunnel and is the most common upper limb neuropathy.

Objective:

To review and analyze the current evidence on the influence of oral corticosteroids on the diagnosis of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Material and Methods:

Research for guidelines (GL), randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT), systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analyzes (MA) published between 2009 and 2019, in multiple databases and evidence medical sites from PubMed, The Cochrane Library, DARE, Bandolier, TRIP Database, BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, National Guideline Clearinghouse, NICE, Canadian Medical Association Practice Guidelines Infobase e Primary Care Clinical Practice Guidelines, using the MeSH terms: "carpal tunnel syndrome" and "corticosteroids". It was applied the SORT scale of the American Academy of Family Physicians for assigning levels of evidence (LE) and strength of recommendations (SR).

Results:

Of the 172 articles retrieved by the research, six were selected: one RCT, four SR and one GL. The effectiveness of corticosteroids in the short- medium term on symptoms control of CTS is evidenced by several methodologically well designed RCTs and SR. In most studies, oral administration of prednisolone 20 mg for two weeks led to temporary symptom relief.

Conclusions:

Oral corticosteroids can be used in the temporary treatment of short-term CTS symptoms using prednisolone 20 mg daily for two weeks (SORT A). Its use in the medium- and long-term treatment has a lower level of evidence (SORT B).

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