A collaborative interdisciplinary approach for trigger finger management.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Hand Surgery
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Stenosing tenosynovitis, commonly known as trigger finger, is a frequent cause of hand disability.
• This study introduces a management protocol prioritizing conservative treatments over immediate surgical consultation for trigger finger.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a conservative management protocol for trigger finger.
• To identify patient characteristics associated with the need for surgical intervention or corticosteroid injections.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective chart review of 72 patients with trigger finger referred for surgery but initially managed conservatively.
• Patients received physical therapy assessment and treatment, with subsequent management determined by the protocol.
• Analysis included descriptive statistics and comparisons of patient characteristics and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Of 60 patients completing the protocol, 22% resolved with physical therapy alone.
• 48.5% resolved with 1-2 corticosteroid injections after physical therapy.
• 12.5% were referred for surgical consultation, with no significant differences in characteristics across groups.

Conclusions:

• The interdisciplinary protocol successfully managed the majority of trigger finger cases conservatively.
• This approach ensures timely access to evidence-based care, including injections and surgery when needed.
• Physical therapy empowers patients with self-management skills, potentially reducing long-term recurrence.