title: Finger movement function after ultrasound-guided percutaneous pulley release for trigger finger: effects of postoperative rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and test a postoperative rehabilitation protocol for use by individuals with trigger finger undergoing ultrasound-guided percutaneous pulley release.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonrandomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital and local community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals suffering from trigger finger with joint contracture (N=21) were recruited and grouped into an intervention group (n=9) or a control group (n=12).
  
  
  METHODS
  All the participants underwent the same surgical procedure performed by the same surgeon. A 4-week postoperative rehabilitation program was designed based on the wound healing process. The intervention group received postoperative rehabilitation after the surgery, whereas the control group received no treatment after the surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The finger movement functions were quantitatively evaluated before and 1 month after the surgery using a 3-dimensional motion capture system. The fingertip workspace and joint range of motion (ROM) were evaluated while the participant was performing a sequential 5-posture movement, including finger extension, intrinsic plus, straight fist, full fist, and hook fist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention group demonstrated significantly more improvements than the control group in the fingertip workspace (49% vs 17%), ROM of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint (16% vs 4%), ROM of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint (21% vs 5%), and total active ROM (17% vs 5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study evaluated a postoperative rehabilitation protocol for trigger finger and demonstrated its effects on various finger functions. Participants who underwent the rehabilitation program had significantly more improvements in the fingertip workspace, ROM of the DIP and PIP joints, and total active ROM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Szu-Ching
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Chieh
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Ming
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Jou
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung-Nien
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: fcsu@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Fong-Chin
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011184:Postoperative Period; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D052582:Trigger Finger Disorder / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Rehabilitation; Trigger finger disorder