The "dark tendon sign" (DTS): a sonographic indicator for idiopathic trigger finger

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Musculoskeletal Diseases

Background:

• Idiopathic trigger finger (stenosing tenovaginitis) diagnosis traditionally relies on clinical assessment, lacking objective measures.
• Current diagnostic methods often involve excluding secondary causes or subjective sonographic findings.
• There is a need for a reliable, objective diagnostic tool for idiopathic trigger finger.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of a newly proposed sonographic dark tendon sign (DTS) alone and in combination with impaired tendon gliding.
• To establish a reliable diagnostic method for idiopathic trigger finger (stenosing tenovaginitis).

Main Methods:

• Standardized assessment of 32 patients diagnosed with idiopathic trigger finger.
• Comparison of patients with a matched group of healthy volunteers.
• Evaluation of sonographic dark tendon sign (DTS) and impaired tendon gliding individually and combined.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in pulley thickness were observed between patients and volunteers.
• The combination of clinically impaired tendon gliding and the sonographic dark tendon sign (DTS) achieved 100% sensitivity and diagnostic efficiency.
• The DTS alone and impaired tendon gliding alone showed varying degrees of diagnostic efficiency.

Conclusions:

• The combination of impaired tendon gliding and the sonographic dark tendon sign (DTS) is a highly effective diagnostic tool for idiopathic trigger finger.
• This combined approach provides a reliable and efficient first-line assessment for daily clinical practice.
• The findings support the integration of DTS and tendon gliding assessment for accurate diagnosis of stenosing tenovaginitis.