The efficacy of 95-Hz topical vibration in pain reduction for trigger finger injection: a placebo-controlled, prospective, randomized trial.

PURPOSE: To determine whether vibratory stimulation would decrease pain experienced by patients during corticosteroid injection for trigger finger.

METHODS

A total of 90 trigger finger injections were randomized to 1 of 3 cohorts. With the injection, patients received no vibration (control group), ultrasound vibration (sham control group), or vibration (experimental group). We used a commercial handheld massaging device to provide a vibratory stimulus for the experimental group. We obtained visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores before and after injection to assess anticipated pain and actual pain experienced.

RESULTS

Anticipated pain and actual pain did not differ significantly among groups. Anticipated VAS pain scores were 45, 48, and 50 and actual VAS pain scores were 56, 56, and 63 for the vibration, control, and sham control groups, respectively. When normalized using anchoring VAS pain scores for "stubbing a toe" or "paper cut," no between-group differences remained in injection pain scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Concomitant vibratory stimulation does not reduce pain experienced during corticosteroid injections for trigger finger.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic I.