Treatment of trigger finger with metacarpophalangeal joint blocking orthosis vs relative motion extension orthosis: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: 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. PURPOSE: 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. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized clinical study. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.

Prediction of disability in trigger finger: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study.

The aim of this prospective study of 55 patients was to analyse the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between disability and physical and psychological variables after conservative treatment of trigger finger and to determine the predictive factors for the post-treatment disability score and change in disability score. The primary outcome measure was the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire. Potential predictive factors included pain, number of triggering events, depression, anxiety and kinesiophobia. Disability correlated strongly with anxiety, moderately with pain and depression and weakly with triggering and kinesiophobia. The change in depression score correlated significantly with the change in disability score. Post-treatment pain and anxiety scores accounted for 47% of the explained variance in disability score. Improvement in depression after treatment accounted for 18% of the explained variance in disability change score. Psychological variables appear to be potential predictors of disability.Level of evidence: IV.