• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2021

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of trigger finger on pain, muscle strength and function in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients. METHODS: A total of 60 subjects (30 carpal tunnel syndrome with trigger finger and 30 carpal tunnel syndrome without trigger finger) were assessment for pain, muscle strength (power grip, key pinch , tip to tip pinch, three jaw pinch) and function. The effect sizes of the two groups were compared, and the correlation between the trigger finger and each variable was analyzed. RESULTS: The results showed that there were significantly difference in the pain, muscle strength excluding three jaw pinch and function (p < .05). The results also showed correlation between trigger finger and pain (r = .552), muscle strength excluding three jaw pinch (power grip r = -.296, key pinch r = -.260, tip to tip pinch r = -.285), and function (r = .375). The function of carpal tunnel syndrome patients was related to pain (r = .550) and power grips (r = -.324) of muscle strength. CONCLUSION: In carpal tunnel syndrome patients with trigger finger compared to carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle weakness, pain increase, and function reduction were shown. In addition, trigger finger are correlated with muscle strength, pain and function, and muscle weakness and increased pain affect the daily living of carpal tunnel syndrome patients with triggers finger. Therefore, physical therapy interventions of carpal tunnel syndrome patients with trigger finger should be combined with treatment for muscle strength enhancement as well as pain reduction.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.99-104
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• 2023

Our study purpose was to report the clinical application of five different pharmacopunctures (Sweet BV, Scolopendrae Corpus, Chukyu, Cervi Parvum Cornu, and Hominis Placenta) for trigger finger. A patient was admitted to Ba-reun-mom S Korean Medicine Clinic and diagnosed with trigger finger. Because the effects of each pharmacopuncture have been confirmed in various acute to chronic cases, we treated a patient diagnosed with trigger finger using pharmacopunctures Sweet BV and Scolopendrae Corpus at the acute phase, Chukyu pharmacopuncture at the acute to chronic phase, and pharmacopunctures Cervi Parvum Cornu and Hominis Placenta at the chronic phase. This case was measured and assessed by Quinnell's classification of triggering and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. After treatment, the patient's fifth finger pain and function were improved. The VAS score decreased from 5 to 0. The Quinnell's classification of triggering score decreased from 2 to 0. This case indicated that a patient with trigger finger could be treated by five pharmacopuncture treatments according to the treatment regimen and disease progress.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.389-396
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• 2016

Objective: This study investigates the clinical application of Shinbaro pharmacopuncture for trigger finger.Method: Because the effect of Shinbaro pharmacopuncture has been proven in various musculoskeletal cases, we treated a patient diagnosed with trigger finger using Shinbaro pharmacopunture. A 0-10 numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain and Quinnell’s classification for trigger finger were assessed before and after three Shinbaro pharmacopuncture treatments.Results: After treatments, the patient’s pain was controlled (without any side effects), and the NRS score decreased from 8 to 1. The Quinnell’s classification of trigger finger score also improved (from 3 to 1).Conclusion: This case has shown that Shinbaro pharmacopuncture treatment could be effective for treating the clinical symptoms of trigger finger.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.169-175
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this case study is to observe the effect of burning acupuncture therapy on the trigger finger. Methods : 2 patients were treated by burning acupuncture therapy to recover from trigger finger. The symptoms were evaluated by visual analog scale(VAS) and Tanaka score. Results : In both cases, VAS decreased to 0 and 1. Patients were evaluated as excellent and good by Tanaka score. Conclusions : Burning acupuncture therapy is effective to trigger finger.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.162-166
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• 2023

This study aimed to demonstrate a safe and effective procedure targeting the A1 pulley with ultrasound-guided acupotomy in patients with a trigger finger. Six ultrasound-guided acupotomy procedures were performed on 1 patient. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score, Quinnell's classification of triggering, Tanaka score, and A1 pulley thickness were measured using ultrasonography before and after treatment. This study revealed reduced NRS score, Quinnell's classification of triggering, Tanaka score, and thickness of the A1 pulley, with no side effects during the procedure. This indicates ultrasound-guided acupotomy as an effective and safe treatment method for patients with a trigger finger. Further studies are required to evaluate the beneficial effects of this treatment.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.139-147
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• 2010

Objectives : The Purpose of this study is to investigate and report the effectiveness of Hominis Placenta using Pharmacopuncture treatment for trigger finger. Methods : 3 Patients are admitted at Dept. of Oriental Rehabilitation, Bu-Chun Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital, diagnosed as Trigger finger and treated with Hominis Placenta Pharmacopuncture. Each cases are measured and assessed by Quinnell's classification of triggering and VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) scores. Results : 3 Patients of trigger finger have a different kind of cause and fingers lesion they have, but nodules are not significantly found up, so we could classify all of 3 patients to diffuse type. After treatment of Hominis placenta Pharmacopuncture, spontaneous pain and tenderness, grades of triggering are decreased significantly. We would expect that Hominis placenta Pharmacopuncture has a effect on degenerative diseases of diffuse type's tendon sheath. Conclusions : Trigger finger is generally divided into two stages, inflammatory and degenerative stage, and when degenerative stage, Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture appears to be effective.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.65-74
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• 2021

Objectives The purpose of this review is to analyze the trends of Korean medicine treatment for trigger finger. Methods Clinical papers using Korean medicine to treat trigger finger were searched in five online databases-Koreanstudies Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, ScienceON, Research Information Sharing Service, and PubMed. Nine studies were selected, and we analyzed their characteristics according to the author, year, number/gender/age of patients, duration of disease, duration of treatment, intervention method, measurement methods, and results. Results Seven case report studies, one prospective observational study, and one randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected in online databases, and there were no review studies. The most frequently used therapies were pharmacopuncture and acupuncture treatment. visual analogue scale, Quinnell's classification of triggering, was frequently used for measurement methods. All nine studies had therapeutic effects. Conclusions We reviewed studies of Korean medicine treatments for trigger finger, in this study. However, there are limitations that seven of the nine selected papers were case papers, and the number of papers was small. This paper suggests that a higher level of research and more studies on Korean medicine treatments of trigger finger need to be conducted.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.304-308
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• 2010

Purpose: Many causes for triggering or locking of the fingers have been discussed in other literatures. The most common one is known stenosing tenosynovitis, which causes, a mismatch between the volume of the flexor tendon sheath and its contents. However, repeated trauma to the hand is uncommon cause of trigger finger. Therefore, we present a case of a rare condition of stenosing tenosynovitis which developed from a repeated relatively weak superficial flexor tendon injury. Methods: The patient was a 62-year-old woman who showed a painless, fixed and round mass on her right hand with no particular cause. Active and passive range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of long finger was limited in flexion and extension. Ultrasonographic finding showed injured flexor digitorum superficialis tendon had fibrillar architecture with swelling between hyperechoic synovial membrane and hypoechoic surrounding area. Surgical exploration revealed that a bunched portion of the flexor digitorum superficialis and A1 pulley cause triggering during operation after adhesiolysis of scar tissue. Results: After releasing the A1 pulley, the range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint of long finger showed no limitation and histological examination of the subcutaneous tissue revealed fibrous fatty degeneration. In this case, releasing the A1 pulley with adhesiolysis of the subcutaneous scar tissue was successful and we obtained good functional outcome. Conclusion: We examined a patient in whom a repetitive impact forces to the palm caused longitudinal tear of the flexor tendon, leading to trigger finger. We experienced a rare case of stenosing tenosynovitis and trigger finger caused after close injury to flexor digitorum superficialis and its degenerative changes that caused mass like effect. To the best of authors' knowledge, our case of close injury to the flexor digitorum superficialis and unique morphologic change before rupture of tendon is rarely to be reported.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2022

Objectives Most of the acupuncture or dry needling points for trigger finger were limited around the metacarpophalangeal joint, A1 pulley, and flexor muscle tendon. Thus, this study aimed to report a case of a patient with trigger thumb which improved using dry needling on additional muscle points. Methods The author has investigated why additional points are needed including what its accompanying effects are. Dry needling and electro-dry needling have been conducted based on anatomical structure. Moreover, a follow-up observation was performed twice to evaluate if the effects of this treatment have been maintained. Treatment progress was evaluated using a numeric rating scale (NRS) and Quinnell's classification of trigger finger. Results After 28 days of treatment, NRS and Quinnell's trigger grade decreased significantly without adverse effects. The treatment effect has been maintained until follow-up observation. Conclusions Additional points are recommended for the radical treatment of trigger finger.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.750-754
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• 2022

Trigger wrist, characterized by a clicking or snapping sensation around the wrist joint during finger or wrist motion, and bifid or trifid median nerve, which occurs in carpal tunnel syndrome along with anatomical variation of median nerve, are rare conditions. We report the case of a patient with a thickened tendon caused by severe tenosynovitis and flexor tendon subluxation to the hamate hook due to bowing of the flexor retinaculum, thereby resulting in trigger wrist as well as an anatomical median nerve variation (bifid median nerve in the right wrist and trifid median nerve in the left wrist). A 59-year-old housewife visited our hospital with bilateral fingertip numbness, tingling sensation, and aggravated severe night cramping that began 2 months ago. She also complained about trigger wrist during small finger flexion. Based on magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, and nerve conduction study, trifid median nerve and bilateral severe median nerve neuropathy of the wrist were diagnosed; therefore, transverse carpal tunnel release and exploration under wide-awake anesthesia were planned. Intraoperative findings showed trifid and bifid median nerves in left and right wrists, respectively. Additionally, bowing of flexor retinaculum and severe flexor tendon tenosynovitis were observed. Tenosynovitis with thickened flexor sheath resulted in subluxation of the small finger flexor tendon above the hamate hook. After transverse carpal ligament release with antebrachial fascia release and tenosynovectomy, subluxation of the flexor tendon was resolved. At 6 months postoperatively, the tingling and dullness in fingertips also resolved, and no trigger wrist or any other complications were noted.