Effectiveness of splinting in the treatment of trigger finger

ISRCTN ISRCTN77451014
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN77451014
Submission date
21/09/2022
Registration date
28/09/2022
Last edited
29/12/2023
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aim
Trigger finger is a common clinical disorder that affects about 2.6% of the general population and is characterized by clicking and/or catching during finger movement. A trigger finger often results in pain and functional limitations, which often affect one’s performance in activities of daily living, work, and leisure. Hand therapy and splinting offer alternative options for patients who do not wish to endure steroid injections or surgery. Hand therapy intervention and splinting are non-invasive and may provide relief for the idiopathic trigger finger. However, the evidence for their effectiveness remains limited. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of hand therapy in comparison to hand therapy and the use of a splint in the treatment of trigger fingers.

Who can participate?
Individuals with a trigger finger

What does studying involve?
An occupational therapist assesses the hand’s movement and pain and will provide intervention (either a finger splint or an exercise program). The study will run in Kuwait, and each participant will be followed for six months

What are the benefits and risks of taking part in this study?
This study will help us understand which treatment method is more effective in treating trigger fingers. There are no risks to participating in this study.

Where is the study run from?
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Hospital (Kuwait)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2020 to August 2022

Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded

Who is the main contact?
Dr Mohammed Sh. Nadar (Kuwait)
mohammed.nadar@ku.edu.kw

Contact information

Dr Mohammed Nadar
Principal Investigator

Occupational Therapy Department
Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
Kuwait University
Jabriah
00000
Kuwait

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0003-4281-5630
Phone +965 2463 3491
Email mohammed.nadar@ku.edu.kw

Study information

Study designDouble-blind randomized controlled study
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet No participant information sheet available
Scientific titleSplinting versus exercise for the treatment of adult idiopathic trigger fingers
Study objectivesSplinting is more effective than hand therapy in treating adult idiopathic trigger finger
Ethics approval(s)Approved 25/04/2022, Kuwait University Health Sciences Center Ethical Committee (Centre for Research Support & Conferences, Office of the Vice Dean for Research & Postgraduate Studies, HSC, Faculty of Medicine, P.O. Box 24923, Safat 13110, Kuwait; +965 24634524; hsc.ethicalcommitee@ku.edu.kw), ref: VDR/EC – 4019
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedIdiopathic trigger finger
InterventionThe study has two groups:
1. The hand therapy control group
2. The experimental group, with splinting of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint of the involved finger, in addition to the hand therapy program.

A simple randomization procedure of computer-generated random numbers was used to assign patients to hand therapy alone versus hand therapy in combination with joint blocking splinting trial arms.

The participants from both groups were required to attend one session of therapy per week, for six consecutive weeks, in addition to following a hand therapy home program. The participants were instructed to perform their therapy program three times a day as a home program.

For the experimental splint group, the participants received a static ready-made Oval-8 splint that immobilizes the PIP joint of the involved digit at approximately zero degrees, while maintaining the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints unrestricted. The PIP joint was immobilized day and night for 6 weeks. The splint allowed full movement of the MCP and DIP joints. In addition to the splint, the experimental group received the same hand therapy intervention as the control group.

At a four-month follow-up, the discharged participants were asked to return to the clinic for a final assessment.
Intervention typeDevice
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Proximal interphalangeal joint blocking splint
Primary outcome measureThe outcome measures were collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 4 months:
1. Pain measured using a Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
2. Severity of triggering measured using Green's classification of triggering
3. Upper extremity function in daily life activities measured using the short-form version of the Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH).
Secondary outcome measuresThere are no secondary outcome measures
Overall study start date01/09/2020
Completion date30/08/2022

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants56
Total final enrolment49
Key inclusion criteria1. Confirmed clinical diagnosis of trigger finger at the A1 pulley
2. Affecting a single digit
3. Trigger finger of idiopathic origin
4. Green’s grade 2 or 3
Key exclusion criteria1. Trigger thumb
2. Multiple digit involvements
3. Presence of an associated condition (i.e., diabetes mellitus, de Quervain's tenosynovitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or hypothyroidism)
4. Caused by trauma (i.e., presence of chronic trauma or repetitive strain)
5. Use of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
6. Previous treatments for the involved trigger digit
Date of first enrolment01/05/2022
Date of final enrolment15/08/2022

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Kuwait

Study participating centre

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Hospital
Ibraheem Dhahi Al Dhahi St
Andalous
00000
Kuwait

Sponsor information

Kuwait University
University/education

Fourth Ring Rd
Jabriya
00000
Kuwait

Phone +965 24633489
Email naser.alotaibi@ku.edu.kw
Website http://kuweb.ku.edu.kw/ku/index.htm
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/021e5j056

Funders

Funder type

Other

Investigator initiated and funded

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/10/2022
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanning publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study will be available upon reasonable request from the study author (Mohammed Nadar, mohammed.nadar@ku.edu.kw). The data can be available in Excell format, with no time restriction, to any researcher.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article 20/10/2023 29/12/2023 Yes No

Editorial Notes

29/12/2023: Publication reference added.
28/09/2022: Trial's existence confirmed by the Kuwait University Health Sciences Center Ethical Committee.