Laser Acupuncture Therapy in Elderly Patients with a Trigger Digit and Diabetes

Trigger digits or stenosing tenosynovitis comprise a pathologic condition of the fingers caused by inflammation and thickening of the synovial tendon sheaths. Treatment of trigger digits is performed to relieve pain and improve function of the affected fingers.

A 64-year-old male patient, with pain (visual analogue scale [VAS] score of 5) and stiffness in the fifth finger of his right hand. He was diagnosed with a trigger digit and controlled type 2 diabetes. He received laser acupuncture therapy at a Nogier ABF frequency at a dose of 6 Joules per point at the SI-2 Qiangu point, Ex-UE-9 Baxie point, and a local point on the nodule of his right hand; and manual acupuncture at the LI-4 Hegu point bilaterally.

After 7 sessions of acupuncture therapy, this patient did not have any pain (a VAS score of 0), the fifth finger of his right hand could be fully flexed, and there was almost no resistance to finger extension. There was no longer swelling and redness of his fingers, and the size of the nodules was reduced. There was an increase in his quality of life per the EQ-5D questionnaire from a scale of 70/100 to a scale of 85/100.

This report describes an elderly patient with a trigger digit and diabetes for whom a combination of laser and manual acupuncture therapy was very helpful. Laser acupuncture can be an option for patients who have contraindications to pharmacologic or interventional therapies.