title: The effect of miniscalpel-needle versus steroid injection for trigger thumb release.
abstract: This study compared the result of percutaneous release using a miniscalpel-needle and steroid injection in 93 trigger thumbs in 83 patients. The patients were randomly assigned to either miniscalpel-needle percutaneous release (group A) or steroid injection (group B). Visual analogue pain scales and patients' satisfaction were evaluated at baseline, 1 and 12 months. One patient in group A and two patients in group B were lost to follow-up. Forty-four of the 46 trigger thumbs in group A and 12 of 47 trigger thumbs in group B had satisfactory results at 12 months. No digital nerve injury occurred in either group. Percutaneous release with a miniscalpel-needle had a higher success rate than steroid injection.
authors.affiliation: Pain Treatment Centre of Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009339:Needles; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013933:Thumb / Q000601:surgery*; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D052582:Trigger Finger Disorder / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide