Comparison of the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection with and without needle release of the A1 pulley in treating trigger finger.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection with and without needle release of the A1 pulley in treating trigger finger. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with trigger finger were enrolled in this retrospective study. Among them, 30 patients were treated with ultrasound-guided needle release of the A1 pulley with corticosteroid injection (group A) and 30 patients were treated with single ultrasound-guided corticosteroids injection (group B). The following parameters were evaluated including clinical parameters (pain degree, function of joint, finger tendon function, postoperative satisfaction), and ultrasound parameter (thickness of A1 pulley). RESULTS: The postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) and Quinnell scores in two groups were significantly lower than that before operation (p < 0.05). The postoperative Quinnell score of group A was significantly lower than that in group B (p < 0.05). The TAM results showed that the postoperative overall excellent and good rate of group A was significantly higher than that in group B (p < 0.05). The postoperative survey showed that more than 80% patients reported satisfaction in the two groups. The ultrasound imaging results showed that the postoperative thickness of A1 pulley in two groups were thinner than that before operation (p < 0.05). There were no adverse effects and complications in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both approaches had treatment benefit in trigger finger. Ultrasound-guided needle release of the A1 pulley with corticosteroid injection had better treatment benefits than single ultrasound-guided corticosteroids injection in improving finger tendon function and joint function.