Clinical Research Directory

Low-Level Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Trigger Finger

Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is one of the most common disorders affecting the hand. Its lifetime prevalence is 2-3%. Patients typically present with locking of the affected finger during flexion and painful catching during extension. In mild cases, pain, swelling, and morning stiffness may be present without triggering. In more severe cases, the affected finger may become locked in flexion. Conservative treatment methods, corticosteroid injections, and surgical interventions can be used in the treatment of trigger finger. Conservative treatment options include activity modification, splint immobilization, exercise programs, massage, physical therapy modalities including extracorporeal shock wave therapy and therapeutic ultrasound, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Splinting is an inexpensive and effective treatment option for trigger finger. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a treatment modality based on photobiomodulation, which leads to biological changes in living organisms through the interaction of photons with atoms or molecules. LLLT is used to promote wound healing and tissue repair, prevent tissue damage, reduce inflammation and edema, and provide analgesia. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of LLLT in the treatment of various musculoskeletal disorders. This study aims to investigate the effects of adding active LLLT to splint treatment in patients with trigger finger. Patients receiving active LLLT plus splint treatment will be compared with those receiving sham LLLT plus splint treatment in terms of clinical and ultrasonographic outcomes.

Effectiveness of Conservative Interventions in the Treatment of Trigger Finger

There is no study in the literature comparing the effectiveness of ESWT and splint therapy, which are the most commonly used approaches in the treatment of Trigger Finger (TF). The aim in this study is to investigate the effectiveness of ESWT and splint therapy used in the treatment of TF.

Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Longitudinal vs. Transverse A1 Pulley Release

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two different skin incisions used in surgery to treat trigger finger in adult patients. Trigger finger occurs when a finger gets stuck or locks because of swelling of the sheath around the tendons the help move the fingers. The main questions it aims to answer are (1) Does the type of skin cut affect how well the hand works 6 weeks after surgery? (2) Does the type of skin cut affect pain levels, scar healing, and how quickly people return to their normal activities? Orthopaedic surgeons will compare a straight incision along the finger (longitudinal incision) to a incision across the crease in the palm (transverse incision) to see if one type of incision results in better recovery, less pain, a better scar, and higher patient satisfaction with the procedure. Participants who have trigger finger and are indicated for surgery will have surgery to release the pulley in their finger using one of the two types of incisions (assigned by chance). Participants will fill out questionnaires about their hand function and pain before surgery and at follow-up visits. Participants will have their scar checked and rated at about 2, 6, and 12 weeks after surgery, and report on their pain for the first few days after surgery and when they can return to work and move their finger without pain.