Authors' objectives:

This Assessment will review evidence to determine if low-level laser therapy is effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic neck pain.

Authors' recommendations: Based on the available evidence, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Medical Advisory Panel made the following judgments about whether low-level laser therapy for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome or chronic neck pain meets the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Technology Evaluation Center (TEC) criteria.1. The technology must have final approval from the appropriate governmental regulatory bodies. Several low-level laser devices have received 510(k) marketing clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the clinical indication of carpal tunnel syndrome.2. The scientific evidence must permit conclusions concerning the effect of the technology on health outcomes. For the clinical indication of carpal tunnel syndrome, the existing randomized clinical trials are insufficient to make conclusions regarding the effect of low-level laser therapy. The findings of the 4 studies are inconsistent. No one study is so methodologically sound that its results would be definitive. In general, the studies were small and most studies did not follow patients for long periods of time beyond treatment.For the clinical indication of chronic neck pain, the existing randomized clinical trials are insufficient to make conclusions regarding the effect of low-level laser therapy. The findings of the 6 studies are variable. Again, no one study is so methodologically sound that its results would be definitive. In general, the studies were small and most studies did not follow patients for long periods of time beyond treatment. 3. The technology must improve the net health outcome; and4. The technology must be as beneficial as any established alternatives. The evidence is insufficient to make conclusions regarding whether low-level laser therapy either improves the net health outcome or is as beneficial as any established alternatives for the indications of carpal tunnel syndrome or chronic neck pain.5. The improvement must be attainable outside the investigational settings. It has not yet been demonstrated whether lowlevel laser therapy improves health outcomes in the investigational setting. Therefore, it cannot be demonstrated whether improvement is attainable outside the investigational settings.For the above reasons, low-level laser therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome or for chronic neck pain does not meet the TEC criteria.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.bcbs.com/blueresources/tec/vols/25/25_04.pdf

Year Published: 2010

URL for published report: http://www.bcbs.com/blueresources/tec/vols/25/low-level-laser-therapy.html

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: BlueCross BlueShield Association

Contact Address: BlueCross BlueShield Association, Technology Evaluation Center, 225 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Tel: 888 832 4321

Contact Name: tec@bcbsa.com

Contact Email: tec@bcbsa.com

Copyright: BlueCross BlueShield Association (BCBS)