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Ultrasound-Guided Microinvasive Trigger Finger Release Technique Combined With Three Tests to Confirm a Complete
Ricardo E Colberg1, John Pantuosco, Glenn Fleisig
1From the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center, Birmingham, Alabama (REC); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama (JP); and American Sports Medicine Institute, Birmingham, Alabama (GF, MD).
Objective:
Trigger finger at the A1 pulley is a common cause of hand pain leading to functional limitations. This study evaluated the outcomes of patients treated with a microinvasive ultrasound-guided trigger finger release technique using an 18 blade and described three tests that confirm a complete release.
Design:
A retrospective chart review and cross-sectional study of 46 cases of A1 pulley trigger finger releases in 28 patients performed at a private, sports medicine clinic using this technique were completed, meeting power criteria. The primary outcome measure was the resolution of mechanical catching/locking; secondary outcome measures were reduction in visual analog scale for pain and improvement of function in the modified Nirschl scale.
Results:
Complete release was achieved in all patients, with no recurrence of catching/locking during the first year (P < 0.0001). Ninety-eight percent of patients had significant pain and functional improvement (P < 0.0001). There were no complications perioperatively and postoperatively. The three confirmatory tests ensured that all cases obtained a successful outcome.
Conclusion:
This technique combined with confirmatory tests resulted in full resolution of the locking for all patients and statistically significant reduction in pain and improvement in function.
