Alfaifi Reem M, Juraybi Alaa A, Alrashed Abdulrahman M, Alghidani Abdullah M, Alfaifi Hana M
From the Physiotherapy Department (R. Alfaifi, Juraybi, Alrashed, Alghidani) Al-Rass General Hospital, Al-Rass; from the Neurosurgery Department (H. Alfaifi), Abha Maternity and Child Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Med J. 2025 Jan;46(1):36-42. doi: 10.15537/smj.2025.46.1.20240612.
To investigate the long-term effects of Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and ultrasound (US) in treating the trigger finger. Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a common type of tenosynovitis affecting the flexor sheath of any finger. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy and therapeutic US are conservative treatments that use waves of varied frequency to target damaged regions and improve function.
This cohort study was carried out in Saudi Arabia, using samples obtain from the files of patients with trigger fingers who visited the orthopedic department at Al-Rass General Hospital between May and June 2023. Of the 38 people with trigger fingers who were initially included, 24 satisfied the requirements for inclusion (11 underwent US, and 13 received ESWT). Assessments were conducted in September 2023, two months later. A goniometer was used to measure the range of motion (ROM), an electrical dynamometer was used to test grip strength, a numerical pain rating scale was used to quantify discomfort, and QuickDASH was used to measure general functional capacity.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy and US significantly affected all outcomes, including pain severity, ROM, hand strength, and general functional capability (<0.005). In the immediate period, the US outperformed ESWT in enhancing general functional capability. Over time, ESWT was more essential for reducing pain (=0.001).
This study provides preliminary evidence that ESWT and US have similar effects in treating trigger fingers.
探讨体外冲击波疗法（ESWT）和超声（US）治疗扳机指的长期效果。扳机指，又称狭窄性腱鞘炎，是一种常见的腱鞘炎类型，可影响任何手指的屈肌腱鞘。体外冲击波疗法和治疗性超声是保守治疗方法，利用不同频率的波靶向受损区域并改善功能。
这项队列研究在沙特阿拉伯进行，使用从2023年5月至6月到拉斯拉综合医院骨科就诊的扳机指患者档案中获取的样本。最初纳入的38例扳机指患者中，24例符合纳入要求（11例接受超声治疗，13例接受体外冲击波疗法）。2023年9月，即两个月后进行评估。使用角度计测量活动范围（ROM），使用电子测力计测试握力，使用数字疼痛评分量表量化不适程度，并使用QuickDASH测量总体功能能力。
体外冲击波疗法和超声对所有结果均有显著影响，包括疼痛严重程度、活动范围、手部力量和总体功能能力（<0.005）。在短期内，超声在增强总体功能能力方面优于体外冲击波疗法。随着时间的推移，体外冲击波疗法在减轻疼痛方面更为重要（=0.001）。
本研究提供了初步证据，表明体外冲击波疗法和超声在治疗扳机指方面具有相似的效果。
