'Trigger finger': comparative analysis of treatment methods by steroid injection, percutaneous release and open surgery

A comparative analysis of treatment methods, steroid injection, percutaneous release and open surgery for patients with stenosing tenosynovitis: a randomised controlled clinical trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN19255926

Enrollment

137

Registered

2010-10-04

Start date

2002-11-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2015-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Stenosing tenosynovitis (trigger finger) Musculoskeletal Diseases Synovitis and tenosynovitis

Interventions

150 'trigger fingers' were randomised using sealed envelopes to one of three treatments: 1. Corticosteroids injection (n = 49): 2 ml methylprednisolone acetate 40 mg/ml injection at the site correspon

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Patients of both sexes 2. More than 15 years with symptoms of blockage of the movement ('trigger finger') in any finger 3. No previous treatment for any type of therapy and classified as type II to IV in the classification proposed by Quinnell (1980) 4. Greater than 15 years of age, no upper age limit

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Patients who refused to accept the consent approved by the Ethics in Research 2. Type I 'Trigger fingers' 3. Condition considered secondary to congenital partial tendon injury

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Trigger finger cure: Defined as the end the blockade of the finger and the free tour of its movement, maintaining remission of the 'trigger' for 6 months. 2. Recurrence of the trigger: Defined as the return of the finger blocking during the six month follow-up study 3. Failures: 3.1. Corticosteroid injection: Defined as trigger fingers that relapsed or continued blockade, after the second infiltration 3.2. Open and percutaneous release: Defined as trigger fingers that relapsed or maintained the blockade after treatment	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Trigger finger cure: Defined as the end the blockade of the finger and the free tour of its movement, maintaining remission of the 'trigger' for 6 months. 2. Recurrence of the trigger: Defined as the return of the finger blocking during the six month follow-up study 3. Failures: 3.1. Corticosteroid injection: Defined as trigger fingers that relapsed or continued blockade, after the second infiltration 3.2. Open and percutaneous release: Defined as trigger fingers that relapsed or maintained the blockade after treatment

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Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Pain: 1.1. Local pain: Defined as pain reported at the site of the procedure in the thumb, index, middle, ring and little finger in the outpatient follow up visit (7 days, 14 days, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months). 1.2. Joint pain: Defined as joint pain reported in the interphalangeal joint of the thumb and proximal interphalangeal of index, middle, ring and little finger at the outpatient follow up visit (7 days, 14 days, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months). 2. Active motion of the fingers (Total Active Motion [TAM]): TAM is recommended by the Committee of tendon injuries of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (Kleinert, Verdan, 1983) to evaluate the active motion of fingers. To calculate the value of TAM, we add the degree of flexion of the three joints of the fingers in active flexion, subtracting the loss of extension, measured with the active finger extension. The measurements were performed with the goniometer on the dorsal region of the fingers. Measurements were taken before treatment and at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months post-treatment.	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Pain: 1.1. Local pain: Defined as pain reported at the site of the procedure in the thumb, index, middle, ring and little finger in the outpatient follow up visit (7 days, 14 days, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months). 1.2. Joint pain: Defined as joint pain reported in the interphalangeal joint of the thumb and proximal interphalangeal of index, middle, ring and little finger at the outpatient follow up visit (7 days, 14 days, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months). 2. Active motion of the fingers (Total Active Motion [TAM]): TAM is recommended by the Committee of tendon injuries of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (Kleinert, Verdan, 1983) to evaluate the active motion of fingers. To calculate the value of TAM, we add the degree of flexion of the three joints of the fingers in active flexion, subtracting the loss of extension, measured with the active finger extension. The measurements were performed with the goniometer on the dorsal region of the fingers. Measurements were taken before treatment and at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months post-treatment.

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Countries

Brazil

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 28, 2026