ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT05477290Updated Jun 24, 2024

Function and Scar in Trigger Finger Release

An observational study in Trigger Finger, sponsored by McMaster University. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-06-24.

Sponsored by McMaster University · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
75
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Trigger finger is a common upper limb impairment associated with a significant decrease in quality of life, hand dexterity and strength as well as increased pain while complying daily activities of living. Trigger finger can be managed through the surgical release of the ligaments in the affected finger. The open surgical release of trigger finger can be accomplished through multiple incision types. As such, each incision may present different risks of harming or disturbing the underlying anatomy in the hand. This study aims to assess the variation in three incisional techniques (oblique, transverse and vertical) to determine which incision is preferential to improve scar aesthetics, increase hand function and minimize complications. Patients will be observed following surgery and information about hand function and quality of life will be obtained through the administration of questionnaires. Data will be collected at four time-points, one prior to and three following surgery.

Read the detailed description

A study describing the superior incision technique is still needed to assess post-open release outcomes of the surgical site such as aesthetics and hand function. This study contributes to literature by providing further clarification into which technique of open trigger finger release is preferential to optimize scar aesthetics, increase function and, minimize complications using patient reported outcome measures such as the MHQ and SCAR-Q. The primary objective of this study is to assess patient Health-Related Quality of Life related to hand function via three incisional techniques using the generic hand instrument, (MHQ). This will be measured at 1 week prior, 1 day prior, and 1, 3, and 6 months post operation. The secondary objective will be to evaluate the Health-Related Quality of Life related to scar appearance post trigger finger release of three (transverse, oblique and vertical) incisional techniques of trigger finger release using the SCAR-Q (a condition-specific scales) at 1, 3 and 6 months post operation.

This study will be employed as a three-arm prospective cohort study. Local surgeons practicing at St. Joseph's Healthcare who utilize different incisional techniques for trigger finger release will compare each of their techniques. As each group sees trigger finger at a roughly equal rate, it is expected that the target of 30 patients in each group will be met in a similar timeline. Data will be recorded by a research team member that is not the operating physician via a paper-based system specific to this study.

At consultation patients will be approached for consent within a private consultation room within the surgical clinic. One week prior to surgery patients will complete questionnaires at the principle investigator's office (completed by the RA) in a private room. Post operation, patients will return to the principle investigator's office at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post operation to complete the same questionnaires and to document any complications they have experienced.

02

Conditions studied

  • Trigger Finger

Keywords

  • Scar
  • Function
  • Health-Related Quality of Life
03

In context

Trigger Finger Disorder

93 studies on the registry are indexed under Trigger Finger Disorder; 22 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 75 is above the median of 68 across 14 observational studies indexed under Trigger Finger Disorder.

Browse Trigger Finger Disorder studies →

Lead sponsor

McMaster University is the lead sponsor of 741 studies on the registry; 127 are open to participants now.

Of its 7 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 3 (43%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Individuals receiving trigger finger release surgery from surgeons who are co-investigators in this study.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Trigger finger release of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th finger
  • Diagnosed stenosing tenosynovitis or trigger finger prior to release
  • Able to understand and communicate English

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Previous attempted surgical treatment
  2. Patients undergoing any concomitant procedure on the same hand (e.g. carpal tunnel release)
  3. Patients who are unable to provide .
  4. Patients who do not have a fixed address
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
75 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Transverse incision

    At the level of the A1 pulley, a transverse incision will be made and the flexor pulley will be exposed with blunt dissection. The pulley will be transected and the wound will subsequently be closed with 4.0 Monocryl after ensuring complete release

    Procedure: Trigger Finger Release through Transverse Incision

  • Oblique incision

    At the level of the A1 pulley, a oblique incision will be made and the flexor pulley will be exposed with blunt dissection. The pulley will be transected and the wound will subsequently be closed with 4.0 Monocryl after ensuring complete release.

    Procedure: Trigger Finger Release through Oblique Incision

  • Vertical incision

    At the level of the A1 pulley, a vertical incision will be made and the flexor pulley will be exposed with blunt dissection. The pulley will be transected and the wound will subsequently be closed with 4.0 Monocryl after ensuring complete release.

    Procedure: Trigger Finger Release through Vertical Incision

Interventions

  • ProcedureTrigger Finger Release through Transverse Incision

    At the level of the A1 pulley, a transverse incision will be made and the flexor pulley will be exposed with blunt dissection. The pulley will be transected and the wound will subsequently be closed with 4.0 Monocryl after ensuring complete release.

  • ProcedureTrigger Finger Release through Oblique Incision

    At the level of the A1 pulley, a oblique incision will be made and the flexor pulley will be exposed with blunt dissection. The pulley will be transected and the wound will subsequently be closed with 4.0 Monocryl after ensuring complete release.

  • ProcedureTrigger Finger Release through Vertical Incision

    At the level of the A1 pulley, a vertical incision will be made and the flexor pulley will be exposed with blunt dissection. The pulley will be transected and the wound will subsequently be closed with 4.0 Monocryl after ensuring complete release.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Health-Related Quality of Life related to hand function

    Outcome measured through the Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ). The MHQ has a total score of 100; the lowest possible score is 0. A score of 100 on the MHQ indicates the best possible ability.

    Time frame: 1 week prior, 1 day prior, and 1, 3 and 12 months post operation

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Health-Related Quality of Life related to scar appearance

    Scar appearance, symptoms and the psychosocial impact of the scar will be measured using the SCAR-Q. This questionnaire has a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 100 with higher scores indicating a better outcome.

    Time frame: 1 week prior, 1 day prior, and 1, 3 and 12 months post operation

07

Study locations

1 site
  • St. Joseph's Healthcare
    Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6, Canada
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — we do not plan on sharing data with other researchers

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Jun 2019 to primary completion in Jun 2024, 60 months.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Jul 13, 2022
First posted
Jul 28, 2022
StartActual
Jun 10, 2019
Primary completionActual
Jun 18, 2024
CompletionActual
Jun 18, 2024
Last update
Jun 24, 2024
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 24, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05477290
Responsible party
Achilleas Thoma (Surgeon, McMaster University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 28, 2022
Start date
Jun 10, 2019
Primary completion
Jun 18, 2024
Completion
Jun 18, 2024
Last update
Jun 24, 2024

Study contacts

Achilles Thoma, MD
principal investigator · McMaster University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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