Comparative Evaluation of Finger Splint, Paraffin, and Peloidotherapy Interventions in the Management of Trigger Finger

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Finger orthosis: Joint-blocking finger orthosis plus home-based exercise therapy

Paraffin bath: Paraffin bath plus home-based exercise therapy

Peloidotherapy: Peloidotherapy plus home-based exercise therapy

Study summary

Patients aged 18-75 years who present with trigger finger to a tertiary rehabilitation hospital and agree to participate will be included in the study. Participants will be randomly allocated into three groups using block randomization. The first group will use a static finger splint that blocks the proximal interphalangeal joint for 6 weeks, along with a home exercise program. The second group will receive paraffin bath therapy, and the third group will receive peloidotherapy, both in combination with home exercises.

All patients will receive education about the disease and activity modification. The finger joint-restricting splint and exercises will be applied for 6 weeks. Evaluations will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the 3rd week, and at the end of the 6th week by a blinded assessor. No analgesic or anti-inflammatory medication will be permitted during the study, and patients will be instructed to avoid using analgesics within 24 hours prior to each assessment.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• VAS pain — Baseline, week 3 and week 6
  VAS pain: 0 no pain; 10 unbearable/max. pain.
• Green's classification (Grades 1-4) — Baseline, week 2 and week 6
  Trigger finger classified according to Green's classification (Grades 1-4) Grade 1 - Pretriggering: Pain in the palm and tenderness over the A1 pulley, with a history of triggering not demonstrable on examination. Grade 2 - Active Triggering: Triggering is clinically evident, but the patient can actively extend the finger. Grade 3 - Passive Triggering: 3a: Locking is present and requires passive extension. 3b: Locking is present, and the patient cannot actively flex the finger. Grade 4 - Contracture: The finger is completely locked with a fixed flexion contracture at the PIP joint.
• Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) — Baseline, week 2 and week 6
  The Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) is a comprehensive self-reported questionnaire developed to evaluate hand function, pain, and patient satisfaction. It is used to assess the functional status of individuals with upper extremity disorders and consists of six subscales: Overall Hand Function, Activities of Daily Living, Work Performance, Pain, Aesthetics, and Satisfaction. The Turkish version of the MHQ has undergone linguistic and cultural adaptation processes, and its validity and reliability have been established. Studies have demonstrated that the Turkish MHQ has high internal consistency and test-retest reliability, supporting its use in both clinical practice and research for assessing hand and wrist problems. The MHQ is scored on a scale ranging from 1 to 100. Except for the pain subscale, higher scores indicate better hand function and satisfaction, whereas higher pain scores represent greater pain intensity. The overall hand health status is determined by cal

Trial sites (1)

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