Comparison of Trigger Finger Treatment with Open Surgery and Percutaneous Release by Blade Probe with or without Corticosteroid Injection: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Pornchai Chobtangsilp MD1, Vichai Vijitpornkul MD1, Darika Thanbuasawan MNS1
Affiliation : 1 Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Sawanpracharak Hospital, Nakhon Sawan, Thailand
Objective : The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness, results, and complications resulting from treatment of
trigger finger with open surgery and with percutaneous release by blade probe with or without cortisone injection.
Materials and Methods : One hundred and twenty-two patients representing a total of 150 fingers were randomly assigned
to one of three treatment groups. Patient were >18 years old with a trigger on any finger of either hand (type II-IV) and a
minimum follow-up time of 6 months. Outcome measures included cures, recurrences and failures, pain scores, total active
motion [TAM], and complications.
Results : Fifty-three fingers received open surgery, 49 received percutaneous release, and 48 received percutaneous release
with cortisone injection. Successful cure was achieved with all three methods in all cases with no difference in TAM, no
recurrences, no nerve injury, and no infections. Topical pain and articular pain were significantly lower in the percutaneous
release with cortisone injection group during the first month, topical pain slightly increased in the fourth month, and then
decrease by six months. Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] scores were <1 in all groups one month after treatment.
Conclusion : Both percutaneous techniques as well as open surgery resulted in similar therapeutic efficacy with no difference
in complications. The cortisone injection groups had better postoperative pain scores in the first month, but all groups had
the same score after 6 months.
Keywords : Trigger finger, Trigger digit, Open trigger surgery, Percutaneous trigger surgery, Trigger thumb, Percutaneous release trigger digit
