The purpose of this study was to identify preoperative factors associated with worse postoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) pain interference (PI) scores 2 years after hand and wrist surgery. We hypothesized that older age, more comorbidities, increased substance use, and lower socioeconomic status would correlate with worse 2-year PROMIS PI scores.

This study was a retrospective review of prospectively acquired data on 253 patients. Surveys were administered within 1 week of surgery and 2 years postoperatively. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to identify significant predictors of worse 2-year PROMIS PI scores and change in PROMIS PI scores.

Older age, higher body mass index, more comorbidities, lower preoperative expectations, more prior surgeries, unemployment, smoking, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, and multiple other socio-demographic factors were correlated with worse 2-year PROMIS PI scores (P ≤ .018). Similar factors were also correlated with less improvement in 2-year PROMIS PI scores (P ≤ .048). Worse scores on all preoperative patient-reported outcome measures correlated with worse 2-year PROMIS PI scores (P ≤ .007). Multivariable analysis identified smoking history, less frequent alcohol consumption, worse preoperative PROMIS social satisfaction and Numeric Pain Scale whole body scores, and higher ASA scores as independent predictors of worse 2-year PROMIS PI. The same factors in addition to better baseline PROMIS PI were predictive of less improvement in 2-year PROMIS PI.

Numerous preoperative factors were predictive of worse postoperative 2-year PROMIS PI and less improvement in 2-year PROMIS PI for patients undergoing hand and wrist surgery.

Corticosteroid injection (CI) is one of the first-line treatments for trigger finger (TF) before escalation to surgical procedures such as percutaneous A1 pulley (PAP) release. This systematic review compares outcomes of concurrent PAP and CI for trigger finger release (TFR).

A systematic search following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. Study variables included the number of patients, mean age, mean follow-up, affected finger, Quinnell grading, return to activity, pre-and post-operative patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and complications.

Seven studies were included, with 685 patients with a mean age of 52.0 years (range of 38.0 to 58.9) and a mean follow-up time of 22 weeks (range 1 week to 52 weeks). Throughout these studies, PAP and CI were performed on 243 thumbs, 115 index fingers, 189 middle fingers, 138 ring fingers, and 10 small fingers. PAP and CI reported satisfaction and pain resolution for 96.2% (five studies) of patients. Additionally, all patients returned to activity, sports, or work (three studies).

Concurrent PAP and CI positively affect clinical outcomes, PROs, and is a well-tolerated procedure with a low rate of complications.

To assess the incidence of subsequent treatment of trigger finger in the same or additional digits after the initial trigger finger release, as well as identify patient characteristics associated with the need for subsequent treatment.

This study retrospectively analyzed 1,715 patients with a trigger finger who underwent surgical release from 2015 to 2017. Bivariate analysis was performed to determine the percentage of patients requiring further trigger finger treatment by either steroid injection or operative release. Patient factors were then compared in those who did and did not undergo subsequent treatment. Cox proportional hazards models and survival analysis were performed to identify patient characteristics associated with requiring subsequent treatment, injection, and surgery.

Overall, 690 (40.2%) patients required subsequent treatment with either steroid injection or surgical release in either the same or an additional finger. Four hundred sixty patients (26.8%) underwent at least one subsequent injection, with 36 (2.1%) of these on the same finger. Additionally, 230 (13.4%) patients received at least one subsequent first annular pulley release, with 14 (0.8%) on the same finger as the initial release. Cox proportional hazards models showed patients with a higher comorbidly burden and current smoking status were more likely to receive subsequent treatment. Higher body mass index and greater comorbidity burden were also associated with requiring subsequent surgery. Additionally, current smokers or patients with a greater comorbidity burden had a higher risk of requiring subsequent treatment in an additional digit not initially released.

Subsequent release or injection in the same or another digit was common following an initial trigger finger release. Patient characteristics such as higher body mass index and greater comorbidity burden were associated with requiring subsequent surgery, and smoking status as well as comorbidity burden were associated with subsequent treatment in an additional digit not initially released.

Prognostic IV.

Considerable evidence supports corticosteroid injection as an effective treatment for trigger finger. One common side effect, the flare reaction, is a well-documented phenomenon of increased pain following steroid injections. Its incidence and intensity may be related to steroid composition. The purpose of this study was to determine whether betamethasone and methylprednisolone injections for trigger fingers have differing intensity of pain or incidence flare reaction.

Patients with symptomatic trigger finger were recruited during their hand surgery visits. Patients were randomized into 2 treatment groups: betamethasone (40 mg) and methylprednisolone (6 mg) mixed with lidocaine 1%. Treatment group assignment was blinded to the patients and investigators. Visual analog scale pain measurements were taken prior to injection, 5 minutes postinjection, and daily thereafter for 7 days.

Sixty-four patients were randomized into the 2 treatment groups. Patients in the betamethasone group reported slightly higher baseline pain compared with the methylprednisolone group, but lower pain on day 1. None of the following days showed a statistically significant difference.

The incidence of flare and severe flare reactions of betamethasone injections for trigger finger management was roughly double that of methylprednisolone, but this difference was not statistically significant. Further studies are required to evaluate the relative course of nonflare postinjection pain for different corticosteroid injections for trigger finger injections.

Triamcinolone tendon sheath injection is a useful nonsurgical treatment for trigger finger; however, complications, such as tendon rupture, and infections caused by excessive administration, have been reported. Considering the complication risk, we inject 4 mg triamcinolone into the tendon sheath without limitation on the number of injections at intervals of at least 1 month. This study aimed to retrospectively examine the results of triamcinolone tendon sheath injections for trigger finger at multiple facilities.

The participants included patients with trigger finger who visited four facilities between April 2009 and October 2021, received at least one triamcinolone tendon sheath injection, and could be evaluated for effectiveness. Patients with a follow-up period of <3 months from the initial injection, and pediatric patients aged <16 years old were excluded. Quinnell's severity classification, number of injections per finger, interval of injections (when performed ≥2 times), complications, proportion of diabetes, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, and proportion that required surgery were collected.

Overall, 356 cases and 715 fingers were included (men, 260 fingers; women, 455 fingers). The mean age of the participants was 64.9 years (17-92 years), and the mean number of affected fingers per person was 1.9 (1-7 fingers). The median follow-up period was 27 (3-134) months. According to Quinnell's severity classification, 234, 274, 126, and 50 fingers were classified as grade 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The average number of injections per finger was 3.3. The mean interval between injections was 6.3 months. Complications, such as tendon rupture, or infection, were not observed. The rate of diabetes was 22.4%, and the median HbA1c value was 7.2%. In total, 9.8% of all patients required surgery.

No complications were observed for 4 mg triamcinolone injections when administered at intervals of at least 1 month.

Therapeutic Ⅳ.

Carpal tunnel syndrome and stenosing tenosynovitis (i.e., trigger finger) are common work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) that have been linked to overuse of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendons of the hand. These injuries occur in response to repetitive loading; as such, they may be characterized using fatigue failure phenomenon. Current WMSD evaluation tools for carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger are built upon fatigue data from lower-limb tendons, however this may lead to inaccurate conclusions when assessing overuse injury risk at the wrist. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize the fatigue behaviour of FDP and FDS tendons. We found that similar to other tendons, cyclically loaded FDP and FDS tendons illustrated a logarithmic relationship between applied stress and fatigue life, however the exact parameters of the FDP/FDS stress-fatigue life relationship were unique and may improve the accuracy of current carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger WMSD evaluation tools. We also observed that creep and damage rate had the strongest correlations with fatigue life, suggesting that these metrics may represent promising future directions for WMSD risk evaluation.

Trigger finger (TF) causes pain and functional impairment. Previous studies have associated TF with carpal tunnel syndrome, which has been linked to obesity. This study investigated the relationship between obesity and the prevalence of TF.

A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from the TriNetX Research Network (2006-2024). Patients with risk factors for TF (rheumatoid arthritis, gout, amyloidosis, prior carpal tunnel release, spontaneous rupture of flexor tendons, hypothyroidism, Dupuytren disease, and diabetes mellitus) were excluded. Two cohorts were compared: (1) patients diagnosed with TF; and (2) those without. The groups underwent propensity score matching based on demographic attributes using a 1:1 nearest neighbor approach. Each patient's mean body mass index (BMI) was calculated by averaging all BMI measurements. Obesity was defined as a mean BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression, incorporating TF diagnosis, BMI, and matched covariates, were used to adjust for confounding factors and estimate risk and odds ratios.

Data from 198 804 patients (99 402 per group) were analyzed. The prevalence of TF was positively associated with increasing BMI. Multiple linear regression revealed that BMI accounted for a small portion of the variance in TF prevalence. Logistic regression demonstrated an adjusted risk ratio of 1.02 (95% CI = [1.01, 1.03]) and an odds ratio of 1.03 (95% CI = [1.01, 1.05]), indicating a 2% to 3% increased risk of TF in obese patients.

Obesity was independently associated with TF. Obese patients had a 2% increased risk of TF compared with nonobese patients.

Finger gliding exercises are believed to enhance flexor tendons excursion. This study assesses the effectiveness of finger gliding exercises in patients after receiving steroid injections for trigger fingers. Patients with trigger fingers who received corticosteroid injection were randomly assigned (1:1) to control and intervention group. The intervention group was required to do finger exercises and submit online exercise log regularly. The clinical outcomes of trigger fingers at 24 weeks and compliance with finger gliding exercises were assessed via online surveys. A total of 38 participants were allocated to each group. Baseline characteristics were similar, except for a longer duration of symptoms in the intervention group (5.2 ± 2.9 vs. 3.6 ± 2.6 months, P = 0.002). At 24 weeks, 34 (89.5%) control and 33 (86.8%) intervention group participants responded to online survey. No statistical significant differences were observed in Numerical Pain Rating Score, Quinelle grading, finger improvement rate, recurrence of triggering, need for repeated injection and occurrence of new trigger finger sites. The exercise log response rate and compliance rate were 85.6% and 68.6%. In conclusion, our study did not establish the clinical effectiveness of finger gliding exercise for trigger finger patients following steroid injections compared to usual care.

Trigger finger is a common disease, and stenosing tenosynovitis is the most frequent cause of this condition in middle-aged women. We report a case of surgical excision in a 16-year-old adolescent male with trigger finger symptoms caused by a solitary osteochondroma at the proximal end of the proximal phalanx. Although tumorous lesions are a rare cause of trigger finger, a differential diagnosis is necessary because the treatment strategy and surgical technique employed to treat this condition differ from those employed for common causes, such as stenosing tenosynovitis and pediatric trigger thumb.

This study aims to investigate the frequency of recurrence and prolonged postoperative symptoms in patients undergoing open A1 pulley release for trigger finger and to identify potential associated factors.

Between October 2021 and December 2023, a total of 72 patients (30 males, 42 females; mean age: 58.0±11.6 years; range, 32 to 84 years) who underwent trigger finger surgery with at least six months of follow-up were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were followed prospectively and relevant data were collected from patient files retrospectively. Demographics, finger symptoms, associated pathologies, clinical grades, Quinnell scores, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores, grip strength, and surgeon experience were evaluated. Prolonged symptoms lasting over eight weeks postoperatively were also assessed.

Comorbidities included carpal tunnel syndrome (13.89%), De Quervain tenosynovitis (13.89%), diabetes (8.33%), Bouchard's node (2.78%), ganglion cyst (8.33%), and calcium deposition (2.86%). Fourteen patients (19.44%) had additional trigger fingers. Loupe was used in 32 surgeries, resulting in significantly fewer prolonged symptoms (12.50% vs. 35.00%, p=0.028). The mean DASH scores significantly improved after surgery (53.07±13.43 vs. 18.41±11.26, p=0.000), with a greater improvement in the loupe group (46.52±6.50 vs. 25.18±13.96, p=0.0000). The mean grip strength did not significantly differ between the surgical and control sides in the loupe group (27.29±7.58 vs. 26.36±7.85 lb, p=0.0887); however, it was weaker on the surgical side in the nonloupe group (23.87±7.81 vs. 25.28±6.96 lb, p=0.0067). Loupe usage was the sole significant factor which was absent in 77.78% of the patients with prolonged symptoms.

Trigger finger surgery, though typically simple and routine, may benefit from loupe-assisted procedures due to reduced postoperative symptoms and improved functional outcomes. Consideration of loupe use is warranted in such surgeries.

Trigger finger is a common disorder of the hand characterized by pain and locking of the digits during flexion or extension. In cases refractory to nonoperative management, surgical release of the A1 pulley can be performed. This study evaluates the ability of machine learning (ML) techniques to predict short-term complications following trigger digit release surgery.

A retrospective study was conducted using data for trigger digit release from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) years 2005-2020. Outcomes of interest were 30-day complications and 30-day return to the operating room. Three ML algorithms were evaluated - a Random Forest (RF), Elastic-Net Regression (ENet), and Extreme Gradient Boosted Tree (XGBoost), along with a deep learning Neural Network (NN). Feature importance analysis was performed in the highest performing model for each outcome to identify predictors with the greatest contributions.

We included a total of 1209 cases of trigger digit release. The best algorithm for predicting wound complications was the RF, with an AUC of 0.64 ± 0.04. The XGBoost algorithm was best performing for medical complications (AUC: 0.70 ± 0.06) and reoperations (AUC: 0.60 ± 0.07). All three models had performance significantly above the AUC benchmark of 0.50 ± 0.00. On our feature importance analysis, age was distinctively the highest contributing predictor of wound complications.

Machine learning can be successfully used for risk stratification in surgical patients. Moving forwards, it is imperative for hand surgeons to continue evaluating applications of ML in the field.

To investigate the long-term effects of Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and ultrasound (US) in treating the trigger finger. Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a common type of tenosynovitis affecting the flexor sheath of any finger. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy and therapeutic US are conservative treatments that use waves of varied frequency to target damaged regions and improve function.

This cohort study was carried out in Saudi Arabia, using samples obtain from the files of patients with trigger fingers who visited the orthopedic department at Al-Rass General Hospital between May and June 2023. Of the 38 people with trigger fingers who were initially included, 24 satisfied the requirements for inclusion (11 underwent US, and 13 received ESWT). Assessments were conducted in September 2023, two months later. A goniometer was used to measure the range of motion (ROM), an electrical dynamometer was used to test grip strength, a numerical pain rating scale was used to quantify discomfort, and QuickDASH was used to measure general functional capacity.

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy and US significantly affected all outcomes, including pain severity, ROM, hand strength, and general functional capability (p<0.005). In the immediate period, the US outperformed ESWT in enhancing general functional capability. Over time, ESWT was more essential for reducing pain (p=0.001).

This study provides preliminary evidence that ESWT and US have similar effects in treating trigger fingers.

Trigger finger (TF), also known as stenosing flexor tenosynovitis, is a common pathology of the fingers causing functional deficit of the hand. In recent years, new therapeutic approaches such as extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and ultrasound-guided (USG) procedures have joined the most traditional conservative treatments as the adaptation of daily activities involving the affected hand and the orthosis. Likewise, the ultrasound (US) examination of the affected finger using modern high-frequency probes has progressively become part of the comprehensive assessment of patients with TF coupled with the medical history, the physical examination, and the functional scales. In this sense, considering the technological advances in both diagnostic and therapeutic fields, the non-surgical strategies have progressively grown defining a rehabilitation panel more complex than in the past. The present manuscript aims to provide an updated practical guide for clinicians and surgeons reviewing the state-of-art of both the assessment and the treatments of patients with TF to plan tailored rehabilitation management taking advantage of the matching of traditional and novel techniques.

To compare the efficacy and safety of the USG-guided vs blind pulley release (PR) for Trigger Finger by performing a meta-analysis of all relevant studies in the published literature.

A thorough and methodical search of the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases was carried out. Review Manager Software (RevMan) 5.4.1 was used to analyze the extracted data, and the results were displayed as forest plots with matching 95 % confidence intervals.

The primary efficacy outcome i.e. residual triggering was significantly lower in USG-guided PR as compared to blind PR with a risk ratio of 0.16 (95 % CI 0.03-0.87), p = 0.03. The primary safety outcome i.e., percentage of complications was lower in the USG-guided procedure group, although the result was not statistically significant with a risk ratio of 0.25 (95 % CI 0.05-1.16), p = 0.08 with I2 of 0 %. The operation time was longer in the USG-guided PR as compared to the blind procedure, although the difference was not statistically significant with a mean difference of 5.36 (95 % CI: -3.73, 14.46), p = 0.25. The postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) score at 4 weeks was significantly lower in USG-guided PR versus blind PR with a mean difference of -0.40 (95 % CI: -0.68, -0.33), p = 0.004.

When compared to blind PR, ultrasound-guided A1 PR for trigger finger was proven to be a safer and more economical method.

To assess and compare two ultrasound-guided, minimally invasive procedures to release the A1-pulley (needle release and thread release) regarding efficacy and safety in an anatomical specimen model.

Twenty-one ultrasound-guided needle releases and 20 ultrasound-guided thread releases were performed on digits of Thiel-embalmed anatomical specimens. A scoring system was developed to assess ultrasound visibility, intervention outcome (incomplete, almost complete, or full transection of the A1 pulley), and injury to adjacent structures (neurovascular structures, tendons, A2 pulley). Statistical analysis was performed to compare the score of the two groups (group 1: needle release,group 2: thread release). A P-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

Needle release was completely successful in 15 cases (71.5%), almost complete release was achieved in four cases (19%), and incomplete transection occurred in two cases (9.5%). Thread release was completely successful in 17 cases (85%), and almost complete transection was observed in the remaining three cases (15%). In both procedures no neurovascular structures were harmed. Slight injury of flexor tendons occurred in two cases (9.5%) in needle release and in five cases (25%) in thread release. There were no significant statistical differences between the groups regarding ultrasound visibility, intervention safety and outcome, (P > 0.05).

Ultrasound-guided needle release and ultrasound-guided thread release have similar success of release, both being effective and safe techniques for the release of the A1 pulley.

Trigger finger, or stenosing tendovaginitis, is one of the most common causes of hand disability, where a finger or thumb painfully snaps and locks due to a tendon-sheath size mismatch at the A1 pulley. The exact aetiology of trigger finger is unknown, though it is associated with factors like diabetes, rheumatic disease and carpal tunnel syndrome. The main purpose of this prospective study was to explore clinical characteristics and comorbidities in a cohort of 139 patients who underwent surgery for trigger finger and find factors of importance for the outcome 1 year postoperatively.

Pain, range of motion, hand function evaluated by the Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire as well as Quinnell grade of triggering were examined preoperatively. Symptom duration, working status, medical history and comorbidities at baseline were also noted. Further, range of motion was evaluated 3 months after surgery, pain and hand function were evaluated 3 and 12 months after surgery. An outcome scale with three levels was defined. The development of any new comorbidities was monitored during an extended postoperative observation period, with a mean duration of 70 months (range: 56-88 months).

Poor outcome was strongly associated with younger age (P = 0.0009), a high level of preoperative pain in the operated hand (P = 0.0027), psoriatic arthritis (P = 0.021) and atopic disease (P = 0.028; odds ratio [OR]: 3.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-13.04). A low range of motion preoperatively did not affect the outcome. Carpal tunnel syndrome was the most common comorbidity but did not affect the outcome. A good preoperative range of motion, good hand function and less pain were associated with better outcomes.

Younger age, a high level of preoperative pain, psoriatic arthritis and atopic disease were factors associated with a worse outcome of trigger finger surgery. Pain and disability decreased 3 months postoperatively and continued to decrease between 3 and 12 months.

Evidence supports the use of hand-based metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) blocking splints as an intervention for trigger finger (TF). In practice, finger-based relative motion (RM) splints are also implemented without evidence.

This randomized comparative trial (RCT) aims to evaluate implementation of MCPJ blocking and RM splints for effectiveness, function, occupational performance and wearability after 6 weeks of TF management.

Priori analysis determined 36 individuals were needed for random assignment to the RM or MCPJ blocking splint groups. Individuals must be aged ≥21 years, and diagnosed with TF involving ≥1 finger. For blinding purposes, the primary author screens for eligibility, fabricates the splints and educates. Therapist A administers the primary outcome measures Week-1 and Week-6-stage of stenosing tenosynovitis and secondary outcome measures- number of triggering events in 10 active fists, visual analog scales (VAS) for pain, splint comfort and satisfaction, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand, and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Therapist B in Week-3 instructs participants in deep tissue massage and administers splint wearability VASs. The RM pencil test is used to determine the affected finger(s) MCPJ splint position i.e., more extension or flexion based on participant response. The MCPJ blocking splint holds the MCPJ in a neutral position. Analysis involves a mixed-effects ANOVA to compare Week-1 and Week-6 primary and secondary outcomes.

Recruitment and data collection are ongoing.

Biomechanically RM splints control tendon excursion and reduce passive tendon tension while allowing unencumbered finger motion and hand function. Hence clinicians use RM splints as an intervention for TF, despite the lack of implementation evidence. This RCT implements a function-focused as well as patient-centered approach with partial blinding of assessors and participants.

We anticipate that this study will provide evidence for the implementation of RM splints to manage adults with TF.

Clinical trial registration This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05763017).

Objective  To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous release therapy for patients with trigger finger. Methods  We obtained the hospital records of 120 patients who underwent percutaneous release, and their final status was evaluated by telephone. Results  The sample was composed of 84 (70%) female and 36 (30%) male patients, with a mean age of 55.4 (range: 30-79) years, and a mean follow-up of 28.6 (range: 6-74) months. Successful results were obtained in 118 (98.3%) patients. In the first week after the procedure, release was performed through the open surgical method in two patients who had complaints of re-entanglement in their fingers. No limitation to the joint range of motion was detected in any finger. Conclusions  Percutaneous release has advantages over the open surgery method in the surgical treatment of trigger finger, due to its low cost, ease of application, performance outside operating room conditions, and similar complication rates.

The click phenomenon occurs when an acquired mechanical restriction of the elevation in adduction of the eye or of the extension of the finger/thumb, is forcefully overcome. The common cause is a nodule either of the superior oblique tendon posterior to the trochlea in the case of a Jaensch-Brown syndrome or of the digital flexor tendon anterior to the A1 annular pulley in the case of a trigger finger. Both locations share similar anatomical conditions for the development of the nodule and the pathomechanism of the click.

From these identical findings in the eye and the hand in small children it can be assumed that the results from the studies of the hand in newborns and infants with a trigger thumb/finger are also applicable to the situation of the eye. 1. This motility disorder is not congenital. This is most likely due to an incomplete development at the time of birth of the sliding factors needed for a free passage of the tendon through the trochlea and the A1 annular pulley. 2. A distinction must be made between stages 0-3: stage 0 = no more restriction of the motility and no click phenomenon; stage 1 = forced active extension/elevation possible; stage 2 = only passive extension/elevation, each with a click phenomenon; stage 3 = no extension/elevation possible and no click phenomenon. 3. In most cases in early childhood there is a spontaneous complete recovery (75% after 6-7 years). In the eye this spontaneous course can only limitedly be shortened with motility exercises in combination with segmental occlusion.

The click phenomenon is a symptom of stages 1 and 2 of an acquired mechanical restriction of the elevation in adduction of the eye or the extension of the finger/thumb. It should not be called a syndrome.

The present work reports on the multiaxial region and orientation-dependent mechanical properties of two porcine wrap-around tendons under tensile, compressive and combined loads based on an extensive study with n=175 samples. The results provide a detailed dataset of the anisotropic tensile and compressive longitudinal properties and document a pronounced tension-compression asymmetry. Motivated by the physiological loading conditions of these tendons, which include transversal compression at bony abutments in addition to longitudinal tension, we systematically investigated the change in axial tension when the tendon is compressed transversally along one or both perpendicular directions. The results reveal that the transversal compression can increase axial tension (proximal-distal direction) in both cases to orders of 30%, yet by a larger amount in the first case (transversal compression in anterior-posterior direction), which seems to be more relevant for wrap-around tendons in-vivo. These quantitative measurements are in line with earlier findings on auxetic properties of tendon tissue, but show for the first time the influence of this property on the stress response of the tendon, and may thus reveal an important functional principle within these essential elements of force transmission in the body. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The work reports for the first time on multiaxial region and orientation-dependent mechanical properties of wrap-around tendons under various loads. The results indicate that differences in the mechanical properties exist between zones that are predominantly in a uniaxial tensile state and those that experience complex load states. The observed counterintuitive increase of the axial tension upon lateral compression points at auxetic properties of the tendon tissue which may be pivotal for the function of the tendon as an element of the musculoskeletal system. It suggests that the tendon's performance in transmitting forces is not diminished but enhanced when the action line is deflected by a bony pulley around which the tendon wraps, representing an important functional principle of tendon tissue.

Trigger finger (TF) is a disorder characterized by snapping or locking a finger. It has a prevalence of greater than 3% in the general population; however, this estimate could be increased to 5% up to 20% in diabetic patients. Some unreal ambiguity about definition, pathophysiology, site of lesion, and etiology are found among researchers and clinicians, leading to a lack of understanding of all aspects of the disease and improper management as many clinicians proceed to anti-inflammatory medications or steroids injection without in-depth patient evaluation. Original articles cited up to 2022, found through a Google search using the specified keywords, have been used in this review. Close-access articles were accessed through our researcher account with the Egyptian Knowledge Bank. In this review, we will focus on pathophysiology to present all possible findings and etiology to represent all risk factors and associated diseases to assess and confirm a diagnosis and the exact location of pathology hence better treatment modalities and reducing the recurrence of the pathology.

The non-genetic factors predisposing to trigger finger (TF) have mostly been characterised in small studies from individual institutions. Here, we aimed to provide a more complete picture of TF and its associations.

This case-control study used cross-sectional data from the UK Biobank population-based cohort to identify and determine the strength of associations of phenotypic variables with TF. We performed multivariable logistic regression of a multitude of phenotypic factors associated with TF.

We identified 2250 individuals with medical and surgical diagnostic codes for TF, and 398,495 controls. TF was found to be significantly associated with age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03-1.04, P < 2.23×10-308), female sex (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08-1.39, P = 2.35×10-3), body mass index (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04-1.16, P = 5.52×10-4), carpal tunnel syndrome (OR 9.59, 95% CI 8.68-10.59, P < 2.23×10-308), Dupuytren's disease (OR 4.89, 95% CI 4.06-5.89, P < 2.23×10-308), diabetes mellitus without complications (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.15-1.58, P = 2.03×10-4) and with complications (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.90-3.17, P = 4.98×10-12), HbA1c (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01-1.02, P = 8.99×10-9), hypothyroidism (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.07-1.43, P = 4.75×10-3) and rheumatoid arthritis (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.06-1.68, P = 0.014).

Our results provide evidence supporting the well-known risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, carpal tunnel syndrome, age and female sex. Furthermore, we can confirm putative associations such as hypothyroidism, obesity and rheumatoid arthritis, while providing evidence against others such as hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. A novel finding arising from this study is the strong association with Dupuytren's disease. Our study design allowed us to identify these associations as being independent from carpal tunnel syndrome, thereby indicating a shared pathophysiology between this disease and TF.

The metacarpophalangeal joint blocking orthosis (MCPJ-BO) is one of the first-line orthotic treatment for patients with trigger finger (TF). Relative motion extension orthosis (RME-O) has recently emerged as a treatment option for various hand disorders involving TF.

The primary objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 6 weeks of orthotic treatment with the MCPJ-BO and the RME-O for pain relief. Function and satisfaction with the orthosis were assessed as secondary objectives.

Randomized clinical study.

Thirty patients with an average age of 50 years with Froimson stage 1-3 A1 pulley triggering participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to either the MCPJ-BO (n = 15; 10 females, five males) or the RME-O group (n = 15; 12 females, three males). The orthoses were worn full time for 6 weeks. All patients received patient education, activity modification, and flexor tendon gliding exercises as part of the rehabilitation program. Pre- and post-assessments included Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire, and Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology questionnaire. The Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to analyze the difference between the two groups.

There were no significant differences between the two groups in pain and function before treatment (p < 0.05). Within-group comparisons indicated that both orthoses relieved pain, but the MCPJ-BO group achieved greater pain relief (p = 0.001). There was a significant improvement in function in the MCPJ-BO group, with a mean change of 12.7 (p = 0.0001). The overall success rates for the MCPJ-BO group and RME-O group were 60% and 27%, respectively. Patients in both groups had high satisfaction with the orthosis.

MCPJ-BO and RME-O could be used for pain relief in the treatment of TF. The MCPJ-BO appears to be more effective than the RME-O in improving function.

Trigger finger is one of the most frequent causes of hand pain and disability. Recently, an endoscopic trigger finger release technique was developed, but outcomes have rarely been reported. Here, we present the outcomes of 2154 endoscopic trigger finger release procedures in a single center.

In this retrospective study, 2154 endoscopic trigger finger release procedures were performed on 2034 patients. Outcome assessment at 90 days after surgery was classified as excellent, good, fair or poor according to a combination of patient satisfaction with the scar and pain at rest or under load on a numeric rating scale.

The therapeutic outcomes were: 1027 excellent, 607 good, 400 fair, and none poor. No major surgical complications were observed. Minor complications occurred in 231 fingers (10.7%).

All patients were satisfied with their outcome after endoscopic trigger finger release. Endoscopic release can be an effective and efficient therapeutic method for the treatment of trigger finger.

With variable and conflicting results to date, it remains unclear whether the percutaneous or open surgical A1 pulley release technique is superior regarding safety and efficacy. The goal of this meta-analysis was to compare the two techniques.

PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar (pages 1-20) were searched through August 2023. Eight randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis.

Of the eight included studies and 548 total patients, there were 278 subjects in the percutaneous release group and 270 subjects in the open release group. There was no significant difference between the two surgical techniques in postoperative rates of revision, complications, or pain.

This meta-analysis found no significant difference between open and percutaneous techniques regarding the need for revision procedures, complications, or postoperative pain. Therefore, both open and percutaneous releases are appropriate.

Therapeutic I.

Duplication of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon is an extremely uncommon anatomical anomaly found within the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) muscle, with minimal documentation in the current literature. We present the case of a 45-year-old female manual laborer who exhibited symptoms suggestive of trigger finger in her right middle finger. Surgical exploration uncovered a duplicated FDP tendon, a previously unreported anatomical anomaly in this context. Despite attempting conservative treatment initially, surgical intervention involving release of the A1 pulley, excision of the A1 pulley, and identification of the duplicated tendon was performed. The unusual nature of this anatomical variation highlights the need for additional research into its clinical significance and treatment options. This case highlights the significance of conducting comprehensive anatomical assessments to diagnose and treat uncommon variations within the FDS muscle. It underscores the continued need for collaborative research to enhance treatment approaches, especially in instances where trigger finger symptoms are present.

Dynamic techniques should be used to compliment static imaging in the field of Musculoskeletal ultrasound. Performing limb movements and imaging simultaneously, allows for diagnosing certain musculoskeletal conditions not otherwise confirmed by still images. This article aims to provide guidance on how to perform a selection of these dynamic musculoskeletal ultrasound techniques with a focus on the upper limb.

This pictorial guide features techniques gathered from literature review and experience gained in the field.

Application of dynamic ultrasound techniques has been evidenced in the literature to diagnose conditions such as trigger finger, dislocating tendons and causes of peripheral neuropathy.

Musculoskeletal conditions only elicited during limb movement can be difficult to diagnose. Appropriate use of dynamic techniques increases likelihood of correct diagnosis of the described conditions.

Ultrasound provides a unique opportunity to visualise these conditions thus ultrasound users should aim to familiarise themselves with dynamic ultrasound techniques to improve patient outcomes.

Trigger finger (also known as stenosing tenosynovitis) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the fingers and causes discomfort and functional impairment. It is estimated to affect 2-3.6% of the population and is more common in manual laborers and individuals engaged in repetitive hand activities. This study comprehensively compares the efficacy of ultrasound-guided release versus traditional open surgery in treating trigger fingers.

We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to identify relevant studies. Inclusion criteria were studies evaluating ultrasound-guided release of trigger finger (grade 2 and higher) compared with open surgical release. A meta-analysis was performed by Revman software 5.4.1 to assess efficacy, utilizing appropriate statistical methods to address heterogeneity. Primary outcome measures included "Quick Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand" (QDASH) scores, Grip strength, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary outcome measures included Days of stopping analgesia, full-digit flexion and extension, days to return to normal activities, pinch strength, Quinnell grading score, and bow strengthening.

Out of the initial pool of 820 studies, five met the inclusion criteria, including 275 patients with 283 trigger digits. The analysis revealed significant differences favoring the ultrasound-guided release group over the surgical group for improvement in Quick Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score in the first month (MD -0.48, 95% CI: 0.75 to -0.2, P = .0007, I2  = 20%). The difference was not statistically significant in the 3-month follow-up period (MD -2.25, 95% CI: -0.54 to 0.05, P = .1, I2  = 0%). Additionally, there is a significant difference in the days required for return to normal activities in favor of the ultrasound release approach (MD -13.78, 95% CI: -16.68 to 10.89, P = .00001, I2  = 68%). The data displayed heterogeneity, which was resolved through sensitivity analysis that also favored the ultrasound-guided group. In terms of grip strength, full-digit flexion and extension, VAS, and days of stopping analgesia no significant differences were observed.

Ultrasound-guided release showed advantages over open surgical release, resulting in improved QDASH score and quicker return to normal activities. This offers a minimally invasive, successful alternative to open surgery, reducing associated risks. Further studies with long-term follow-up are recommended.

We report a rare case of flexor tenosynovial fistula secondary to endoscopic release of the A1 pulley for treatment of trigger finger.

A 72-year-old woman underwent endoscopic release of the A1 pulleys of her left ring and right middle fingers. Nine days after surgery, the wound at the base of the proximal phalanx of the ring finger (distal portal) remained open and a clear liquid discharge was seen. The volume of discharge increased with active finger motion. However, there was no evidence of infection. The patient was diagnosed with tenosynovial fistula as a complication of endoscopic release of the A1 pulley. At day 30, the fistula and drainage persisted and the condition was managed by surgical excision of the fistula and primary closure. The wound then healed completely.

Our report alerts hand surgeons to the potential development of flexor tenosynovial fistula as a very rare complication following endoscopic release of the A1 pulley for the treatment of trigger finger.

Objectives This study aims to investigate the negative prognostic indicators of pediatric and adult trigger finger surgery patients concerning complications, recurrence, and satisfaction. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 61 patients with a total of 91 trigger fingers, including 31 in children and 30 in adult patients, all of whom were treated using a standardized surgical technique. The study considered several demographic and clinical factors, including age, gender, dominant hand, body mass index, occupation, history of trauma, single or multiple finger involvement, staging according to Green classification, diabetes mellitus, comorbidities, recurrence, revision surgery, utilization of non-surgical treatment methods, need for rehabilitation after surgery, time to return to work, the time interval from clinic initiation to the surgery, satisfaction and the duration of the follow-up period. In addition, the quick version of the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (QDASH); and the visual analog scale (VAS) were used to assess patients' data. Results In adult patients, a statistically significant relationship was observed between the increasing grade of the Green stage and complication rate (p<0.001), recurrence (p<0.001), and lower satisfaction (p<0.001). No statistically significant relationship was identified between Green's classification and complications (p=0.129), recurrence (p=0.854), or satisfaction (p=0.143) in pediatric patients. While a statistically significant relationship existed between the time interval from clinic initiation to surgery and complications (p=0.033) in adult patients, no significant relationships were observed for recurrence or satisfaction. Conversely, there was no statistically significant relationship between the time interval from clinic initiation to surgery and complications, recurrence, or satisfaction in pediatric patients. Conclusion This study demonstrates that increasing the grade of the Green stage and duration of symptoms before surgery were the substantial factors contributing to prognosis in adult patients but not in pediatric patients. These findings can assist physicians during patients' treatment management. We suggest that physicians consider these factors for patients' satisfaction.

Trigger finger release (TFR) is a common hand surgery, historically performed using a tourniquet. Recently, wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) has gained popularity due to ostensible advantages such as improved patient pain, satisfaction, lower rate of complications, and decreased cost. This systematic review compares outcomes of WALANT for TFR with local anesthesia with a tourniquet (LAWT). MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched. All English-language peer-reviewed randomized and observational studies assessing TFR in adults were included. Quality of evidence was assessed with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Eleven studies (4 randomized controlled trials, 7 observational) including 1233 patients were identified. In the WALANT group, pain on injection was statistically nonsignificantly lower (mean difference [MD]: -1.69 points, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -4.14 to 0.76, P = .18) and postoperative pain was statistically lower in 2 studies. Patient and physician satisfaction were higher and analgesic use was lower in WALANT. There were no significant differences between groups for functional outcomes or rates of adverse events. Preoperative time was longer (MD: 26.43 minutes, 95% CI = 15.36 to 37.51, P < .01), operative time similar (MD: -0.59 minutes, 95% CI = -2.37 to 1.20, P = .52), postoperative time shorter (MD: -27.72 minutes, 95% CI = -36.95 to -18.48, P < .01), and cost lower (MD: -52.2%, 95% CI = -79.9% to -24.5%) in WALANT versus LAWT. The GRADE certainty of evidence of these results ranges from very low to low. This systematic review does not confirm superiority of WALANT over LAWT for TFR due to moderate to high risk of bias of included studies; further robust trials must be conducted.

Through anatomical morphology, to accumulate the relevant parameters of the A1 pulley of each adult finger. A total of 100 fingers were selected, dissected layer by layer, and the A1 pulley and neurovascular of each finger were observed. Measure the length of the A1 pulley, the distance between the needle knife insertion point and the proximal edge of A1 pulley, and the nerves and blood vessels on both sides. (1) The length of A1 pulleys of each finger is 6.18 ± 0.33 mm, 6.58 ± 0.73 mm, 5.98 ± 0.67 mm, 5.36 ± 1.08 mm, 5.63 ± 1.09 mm. (2) The distances between the needle knife entry point of each finger and the volar proper nerve of the ulnar finger are 7.00 ± 1.55 mm, 8.29 ± 1.46 mm, 5.10 ± 0.25 mm, 5.30 ± 0.24 mm, 0 mm; the distances from the volar proper nerve of the radial finger are 9.08 ± 0.87 mm, 4.70 ± 1.10 mm, 7.03 ± 0.72 mm, 6.81 ± 0.22 mm, 7.81 ± 0.57 mm. (3) The distances between the needle knife entry point of each finger and the proper volar artery of the ulnar finger are 10.40 ± 0.75 mm, 8.89 ± 0.53 mm, 6.35 ± 0.44 mm, 7.26 ± 0.16 mm, 0 mm, respectively; The distances from the volar proper artery of the radial finger are 8.75 ± 1.07 mm, 6.10 ± 0.35 mm, 11.44 ± 0.41 mm, 8.19 ± 0.60 mm, 9.78 ± 0.68 mm, respectively. The landmarks of the needle entry points are located at the position corresponding to the highest point of the metacarpal heads, except the tail finger. From the needle knife entry point to distal, cut the proximal edge of the A1 pulley longitudinally along the midline until the patient can flex autonomously, and pay attention to the distance between the two sides of 3.60-11.85 mm neurovascular bundle.

To investigate if socioeconomic status impacts patient-reported outcomes after a surgically treated trigger finger (TF).

Data on patients with TF treated with surgery were collected from the Swedish National Quality Registry of Hand Surgery (HAKIR) 2010-2019 with an evaluation of symptoms and disability before surgery and at 3 and 12 months after surgery, using the short version of the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire.Data from HAKIR and the Swedish National Diabetes Registry (ndr.nu) were combined with socioeconomic data from Statistics Sweden (scb.sc), analysing the impact of marital status, education level, income, occupation, sickness benefits, days of unemployment, social assistance and migrant status on the outcome by a linear regression model.

In total, 5477 patients were operated on for primary TF during the study period, of whom 21% had diabetes, with a response rate of 35% preoperatively, 26% at 3 months and 25% at 12 months.

At all time points, being born in Sweden (preoperatively B-coefficient: -9.74 (95% CI -13.38 to -6.11), 3 months postoperatively -9.80 (95% CI -13.82 to -5.78) and 12 months postoperatively -8.28 (95% CI -12.51 to -4.05); all p<0.001) and high earnings (preoperatively -7.81 (95% CI -11.50 to -4.12), 3 months postoperatively -9.35 (95% CI -13.30 to -5.40) and 12 months postoperatively -10.25 (95% CI -14.37 to -6.13); all p<0.0001) predicted lower QuickDASH scores (ie, fewer symptoms and disability) in the linear regression models. More sick leave during the surgery year predicted higher QuickDASH scores (preoperatively 5.77 (95% CI 3.28 to 8.25; p<0.001), 3 months postoperatively 4.40 (95% CI 1.59 to 7.22; p<0.001) and 12 months postoperatively 4.38 (95% CI 1.35 to 7.40; p=0.005)). No socioeconomic factors impacted the change in QuickDASH score from preoperative to 12 months postoperatively in the fully adjusted model.

Individuals with low earnings, high sick leave the same year as the surgery and those born outside of Sweden reported more symptoms both before and after surgery, but the relative improvement was not affected by socioeconomic factors.

Trigger finger (TF; a type of stenosing tenosynovitis) is common, affecting the flexor tendons of the hand, often causing significant pain and functional impairment. Treatment can include splinting, corticosteroid injection, or surgical release. There is little published research on the role of electroacupuncture (EA) for treating TF.

After more than 1 year of pain and triggering, a 58 year-old male had locking of his left, fourth ring finger requiring painful manual reduction. EA was performed with 4-6 needles in a rectangular pattern along the radial and ulnar aspects of the A1 pulley of the fourth digit, with 10 Hz delivered in a daisy-chain formation for 45 minutes. Nodule size, frequency of triggering and locking, and severity of pain were assessed before and after 4 treatments over ∼1.5 months.

This patient's frequency of locking and severity of pain decreased significantly by 50% after his first treatment. Additional clinically significant reductions of locking, pain, and nodule-size were evident after each treatment along with substantial functional gains between visits. After his fourth treatment, he reported 100% resolution of his symptoms with no further pain or triggering. Throughout this time, he continued his usual activities.

EA alone directed at the A1 pulley may be an effective treatment modality for patients with TF. The authors hypothesize that EA may reduce pain enabling a return to normal function and compression of the nodule, thus eliminating triggering. Further research evaluating the efficacy of EA for TF may help substantiate these results.

The current study ushers in a comprehensive review in clinical research to demonstrate the prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) complications in diabetes mellitus and the most relevant clinical aspects. In particular, revealing the early symptoms of the disorders, the pathology lurking behind the complications and their optimal management. In diabetes mellitus, MSK complications are common and are largely due to similar pathogenetic factors responsible for the internal organ complications associated with diabetes leading to chronic low-intensity inflammatory processes. MSK disorders develop by vasculopathy, neuropathy, arthropathy or combinations of the above, which are not specific to diabetes. However, their prevalence is significantly increased in diabetes and contributes to the disability impairing patients' quality of life. Locomotor disease affects approximately 34.4-83.5 % of patients suffering from type-2 diabetes mellitus. Several musculoskeletal abnormalities (cheiroarthropathy, Dupuytren's contracture, trigger finger, ect.) can be diagnosed upon physical examination, although certain symptoms (frozen shoulder, neurogenic arthropathy, septic arthritis, etc.) require differential diagnostic considerations. Early identification regarding characteristic symptoms in the treatment reducing inflammation and pain, followed with increasingly strenuous exercise therapy, aligned with optimal management of carbohydrate metabolism, proves essential in alleviating MSK complications.

Trigger finger is a common hand condition in which a finger is unable to fully extend owing to a thickening of the tendon and its sheath, causing the finger to lock in a bent position.

To assess the viability of carrying out trigger finger surgeries in NHS primary care in terms of clinician and patient acceptance, experience, and outcomes; and operational requirements of this service for wider application.

A pilot study for a new service in primary care in Leicestershire, UK.

A total of 214 trigger finger release surgery procedures were carried out between 22 August 2019 and 25 October 2022 by a single hand surgeon in a single primary care surgery. Data were analysed using information from SystmOne, which is a patient database linked with the NHS.

Thirty-two cases out of 214 (15.0%) experienced a wait time of <10 days from the GP referral to the first outpatient appointment (OPA). Out of 214 procedures, there were 26 (12.1%) postoperative complications that required follow-up action. Of the total number of cases where postoperative complications were identified, 13 cases required further follow-up action, while the remaining 13 did not have any identifiable further follow-up action and were regarded as closed cases thereafter.

Trigger finger release surgery in primary care offers an opportunity to reduce pressures on secondary care orthopaedic referrals, as well as offering patients faster and effective surgical treatment while utilising fewer NHS resources.

Steroid injection and splinting, which are commonly recommended nonsurgical treatments in adults with trigger finger, have been demonstrated to effectively relieve pain and improve function. However, to our knowledge, there have been no direct comparisons of pain relief and function improvement with splinting alone, steroid injection alone, or a combination of splinting and steroid injection in patients with this diagnosis.

Are there differences in pain reduction and functional improvement in adults with trigger finger treated with splinting alone, steroid injection alone, and a combination of splinting and steroid injection at 6, 12, and 52 weeks after the intervention?

Between May 2021 and December 2021, we treated 165 adult patients for trigger finger at an academic university hospital. Based on prespecified criteria, all patients we saw during that period were eligible, but 27% (45 of 165) were excluded because they had received a previous local corticosteroid injection (n = 10) or they had concomitant carpal tunnel syndrome (n = 14), first carpometacarpal joint arthritis (n = 3), osteoarthritis of the hand (n = 6), de Quervain disease (n = 3), multiple-digit trigger finger (n = 6), or pregnancy during the study period (n = 3). After screening, 120 patients were randomized to receive either splinting (n = 43), steroid injection (n = 40), or splinting plus steroid injection (n = 37). Patients were randomly assigned to the different treatments using computer-generated block randomization (block of six). Sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes were used in the allocation concealment process. Both the allocator and the outcome assessor were blinded. Splinting involved the patient wearing a fixed metacarpophalangeal joint orthosis in the neutral position at least 8 hours per day for 6 consecutive weeks. Steroid injection was performed using 1 mL of 1% lidocaine without epinephrine and 1 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/mL) injected directly into the flexor tendon sheath. No patients were lost to follow-up or had treatment failure (that is, the patient had persistent pain or triggering with the trigger finger treatment and requested additional medical management including additional splinting, steroid injection, or surgery) at 6 or 12 weeks after the intervention, and at 52 weeks, there was no difference in loss to follow-up among the treatment groups. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed with all 120 patients, and a per-protocol analysis was conducted with 86 patients after excluding patients who were lost to follow-up or had treatment failure. Primary outcomes evaluated were VAS pain reduction and improvement in Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) scores at 6, 12, and 52 weeks after the intervention. The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) values were 1 and 10.9 for the VAS and MHQ, respectively.

There were no clinically important differences in VAS pain scores among the three treatment groups at any timepoint, in either the intention-to-treat or the per-protocol analyses. Likewise, there were no clinically important differences in MHQ scores at any timepoint in either the intention-to-treat or the per-protocol analyses.

Splinting alone is recommended as the initial treatment for adults with trigger finger because there were no clinically important differences between splinting alone and steroid injection alone in terms of pain reduction and symptom or functional improvement up to 1 year. The combination of steroid injection and splinting is disadvantageous because the benefits in terms of pain reduction and symptom or functional improvement are not different from those achieved with steroid injection or splinting alone.

Level I, therapeutic study.

To investigate the health-related factors and analyze the expression of epigenetic related genes and inflammatory genes in metabolic syndrome Trigger Finger (TF) and smoker TF.

Samples from patients' fingers with symptomatic TF were collected. There were seven groups: healthy control group, carpal tunnel syndrome (as a control for gene expression analysis), TF, diabetic TF, hypertensive TF, dyslipidemic TF and smoker TF. The expression levels of epigenetic related genes and inflammatory genes in metabolic syndrome TF and smoker TF were evaluated by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaires, disability of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) and numeric pain rating scale were given to the participants to fill out.

There was a significant increase in hand dysfunction in the metabolic TF groups and smoker group compared to the TF group (p < 0.0001). The stress levels of the smoker TF group and TF with hypertension group were significantly increased compared with those in the TF group (p < 0.03) and (p < 0.021), respectively. On the other hand, there was a significant increase in the COL-I, COL-II and TNF-α gene expression of the metabolic TF groups and smoker group (p < 0.0001).

Health-related factors in the TF tendons was highly associated with the level of inflammation and genetic alteration in TF metabolic syndromes and smoker TF patients. Therefore, further investigation is required to examine the combination of occupational therapy, gene expression, and health-related factors as a promising method of managing TF.

We investigated the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) and the pain visual analogue scale (VAS-pain) after conservative treatment of trigger finger. This secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial compared pain reduction, symptoms and functional improvement at 12 weeks. Patients included were at least 18 years old and able to complete MHQ and VAS-pain at enrolment and 12 weeks after treatment. The MCIDs of MHQ and VAS-pain were evaluated using a distribution-based, anchor-based and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve-based approach. Of the 117 patients, the MCIDs of MHQ and VAS-pain using a distribution-based approach were 5.3 and 0.6, respectively; applying ROC method were 23.5 and 2.5, respectively; and using anchor questions were 15 and 2, respectively. These MCID values by anchor-based method with a minimal difference of 15 for MHQ and 2 for VAS-pain are recommended as primary evidence to determine clinically significant improvement after conservative treatment of trigger finger.Level of evidence: I.

Background Trigger finger is a condition characterized by clicking or locking during finger movement, sometimes resulting in the freezing of a finger in flexion or extension. The aim of our retrospective study was to determine the effect of the surgeon's learning curve on clinical outcomes in percutaneous release of the trigger finger. In addition, we evaluated the effects of diabetes and local steroid injections on clinical outcomes. Methodology A total of 954 trigger fingers in 678 patients were reviewed from 2012 to 2022. All percutaneous release procedures were performed by a single surgeon in our institute under local anesthesia. The main outcome measures were recurrence and patient satisfaction. In addition, all patients were evaluated in terms of re-operation and complications. The mean follow-up period was 54.87 months. Results There was complete relief of symptoms in 636 (93.81%) patients, and 22 (3.24%) patients had mild pain but were satisfied. We found that the success rate increased over time. The success rate was 91.4% in the first three years and increased to 98.25% in the next seven years (p = 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the diabetic and non-diabetic groups in terms of recurrence, satisfaction rate, and complications (p > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of recurrence, satisfaction rate, and complications between the groups that received and did not receive steroid injections (p > 0.05). Conclusions Percutaneous release is a safe and reliable procedure in the treatment of trigger fingers, and the success rate increases as the experience increases. Moreover, diabetes mellitus and steroid injections did not affect the clinical results.

Trigger digit, Dupuytren's disease, and ganglion cysts are 3 common disorders treated by hand surgeons. Despite the varying nature of their pathology, these 3 entities can all present as a mass at the flexor crease in the distal palm. The regional similarity of these presentations can make diagnosis more difficult. In this paper, we describe a simple clinical exam method that can assist in distinguishing between trigger digit, Dupuytren's disease, and flexor sheath ganglion cysts.

Trigger finger (TF) often occurs after carpal tunnel release (CTR), but the mechanism and outcomes remain inconsistent. This study evaluated the incidence of TF after CTR and its related risk factors.

​PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched up to 27 August 2022, with the following keywords: "carpal tunnel release" and "trigger finger". Studies with complete data on the incidence of TF after CTR and published full text. The primary outcome was the association between CTR and the subsequent occurrence of the TF and to calculate the pooled incidence of post-CTR TF. The secondary outcomes included the potential risk factors among patients with and without post-CTR TF as well as the prevalence of the post-CTR TF on the affected digits.

Ten studies with total 10,399 participants in 9 studies and 875 operated hands in one article were included for meta-analysis. CTR significantly increases the risk of following TF occurrence (odds ratio=2.67; 95% CI 2.344-3.043; P <0.001). The pooled incidence of TF development after CTR was 7.7%. Women were more likely to develop a TF after CTR surgery (odds ratio=2.02; 95% CI 1.054-3.873; P =0.034). Finally, the thumb was the most susceptible fingers, followed by middle and ring fingers.

High incidence of TF comes after CTR, and women were more susceptible than man. Clinicians were suggested to notice the potential risk of TF after CTR in clinical practice.

Level III, meta-analysis.

The cause of trigger fingers remains uncertain. High lipid levels in the blood may reduce blood supply to the distal fingers and promote inflammation. We aimed to explore the association between hyperlipidemia and trigger finger. A nationwide population-based cohort study using longitudinal data from 2000 to 2013, 41,421 patients were included in the hyperlipidemia cohort and 82,842 age- and sex-matched patients were included in the control cohort. The mean age was 49.90 ± 14.73 years in the hyperlipidemia cohort and 49.79 ± 14.71 years in the control cohort. After adjusting for possible comorbidities, the hazard ratio of trigger finger in the hyperlipidemia cohort was 4.03 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.57-4.55), with values of 4.59 (95% CI, 3.67-5.73) and 3.77 (95% CI, 3.26-4.36) among male and female patients, respectively. This large-scale population-based study demonstrated that hyperlipidemia is correlated to trigger finger.

This study retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness of percutaneous pulley release by our newly designed needle knife in terms of cure, relapse, and complication rates.

Two hundred and fifty-seven patients were allocated into male and female groups between October 2014 and September 2021. We included patients >15 years of age with a trigger finger (TF) (types II-VI). The primary outcome was the absence of a TF and pain-free movement. In contrast, the secondary outcome included second-time surgery and the number of complications such as infection and admission for antibiotics.

One hundred patients were male, and 157 patients were female. Males and females had mean ages of 62.45 ± 11.76 and 61.50 ± 8.57 years, respectively. The operative time was significantly longer in males than in females (7.88 ± 6.02 vs. 6.52 ± 3.74 min in males and females, respectively, P = 0.027). However, the percentages of diabetes mellitus and gout were the same in both groups. For the percutaneous methods with our needle knife, remission of the trigger was achieved in all cases. In addition, seven patients received revision and three patients with complications. After needle surgery, topical and joint pain scores were improved in both groups (from 5.09 ± 1.31 to 0.80 ± 1.56).

The percutaneous methods with our needle knife displayed effectiveness. The cure rate was high, and the relapse rate was low. Further large-scale clinical trials comparing percutaneous needle to open surgery for releasing the TF will be needed to confirm our results.

Trigger finger is a common disease with a lifetime prevalence of 2%. One of the frequently preferred non-surgical treatments is blinded injection around the A1 pulley. This study aims to compare the clinical results of ultrasound-guided and blinded corticosteroid injection in the trigger finger.

In this prospective clinical study, 66 patients who had persistent symptoms of a single trigger finger were included. Patients with similar baseline characteristics such as age, gender, triggering period, and comorbidities were randomized. 34 patients had ultrasound-guided (UG), and 32 had blinded injections (BG). QDASH, VAS, time to return to work, and complications were compared between the groups.

The mean age was 52,66 (29-73) years. There were 18 male and 48 female patients. In the UG, the triggering resolved faster, returning to work was earlier, and the medication period was shorter (p < 0.05). A total of 17 patients who had diabetes mellitus received re-injections, 11 of which were in BG and 6 in UG (p < 0.05). Although statistically significantly lower scores were obtained in UG at the 1st and 4th weeks in the QDASH and VAS scores (p < 0.05), at the 12th and 24 weeks, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05).

Using ultrasound guidance for corticosteroid injections is more effective for treating trigger fingers than the blinded method, leading to better results and a faster return to work in the early stages of treatment.

Trigger finger is overrepresented among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Whether DM affects the outcome after open trigger finger release (OTFR) in patients with DM is not known. Our aim was thus to explore outcomes after OTFR in patients with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 DM (T2D).

Data included patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) from all OTFRs performed between 2010 and 2020 registered in the Swedish national registry for hand surgery in individuals over 18 years cross-linked with the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR). PROMs included QuickDASH and HQ8, a questionnaire designed for national registry for hand surgery, preoperative and at 3 and 12 months postoperative. HQ8 included pain on load, pain on motion without load, and stiffness. Outcome was calculated using linear-mixed models and presented as means adjusted for age and stratified by sex.

In total, 6242 OTFRs were included, whereof 496 had T1D (332, 67% women) and 869 had T2D (451, 52% women). Women with T1D reported more symptoms of stiffness (P < 0.001), and women with T2D reported more pain on load (P < 0.05), motion without load (P < 0.01), and worse overall result at 3 months. At 12 months, however, no differences were found in any of the HQ-8 PROMs among men or women. Women with T2D had slightly higher QuickDASH scores at 3 and 12 months.

Patients with T1D and T2D can expect the same results after OTFR as individuals without DM, although the improvement might take longer especially among women with T2D.

Recurrent trigger finger after surgery is one of the major adverse events. However, studies to identify factors associated with recurrence after open surgical release in adult trigger finger patients are still limited.

To identify factors associated with recurrent trigger finger after open surgical release.

This 12-year retrospective observational study included 723 patients with 841 trigger fingers who underwent open A1 pulley release. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: those with recurrent trigger finger after surgery and those without. Associations between potential predictors including age, sex, duration of symptoms, occupation status, active smoker status, number of steroid injections before surgery, and types of comorbidities and the outcome of interest, recurrence of trigger finger, were examined using univariable and multivariable analyses. The results are presented as hazard ratios (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

The recurrence rate after trigger finger release was 2.39% (20 of 841 fingers). After adjusting for confounders, more than 3 steroid injections before surgery and manual labor were the independent predictors of recurrent trigger finger (HR = 4.87, 95%CI = 1.06-22.35 and HR = 3.43, 95%CI = 1.15-10.23, respectively).

More than 3 steroid injections before surgery and manual labor increase the risk of recurrent trigger finger after an open A1 pulley release. There may be limited benefit in administering a fourth steroid injection.