A retrospective review to determine the long-term efficacy of orthotic devices for trigger finger.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of orthotic devices (splints) in an attempt to resolve trigger finger.

METHODS

Data were extracted from 46 charts during a five-year period from January 2005 to December 2010. At ten weeks, patients were seen for follow-up assessment of pain and stage of stenosing tenosynovitis (SST). One-year follow-up was performed to determine if the patients required further surgical intervention or steroid injection. The data were analyzed to determine the efficacy of orthosis intervention.

RESULTS

Mean pain score preorthotic is 5.63 and postorthotic is 1.20. Mean SST score preorthotic is 3.93 and postorthotic is 1.21. There was an 87% (40 patients) success rate with the orthotic intervention; 4.3% (two patients) had surgery and 8.5% (four patients) received a steroid injection in the year after orthotic application.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated the efficacy of orthoses for the reduction of pain and SST score for patients who have trigger finger.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.