An interventional study of shock waves in Trigger Finger, sponsored by Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in Italy. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-28.
Sponsored by Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Recently, two works have proposed the application of Extracorporeal Shock Waves Therapy (ESWT) in the treatment of trigger finger. Yildirim and colleagues (2016) compared shock waves with corticosteroid infiltration. both methods proved effective at 6 months. The authors suggested that shock wave treatment could be a valid non-invasive therapy option for this pathology. Chen and colleagues (2021) analyzed two different shock wave protocols [high and low Energy Density Flux (EDF)] vs placebo. All treatment groups showed improvements within 6 months. The high-energy treatment (EDF 0.01 mj/mm2) demonstrated greater effects on clinical remission and functional recovery compared to the other two groups in the study. The aim of our study is to compare the effects of shock waves vs the use of the orthosis.
Trigger finger, also called flexor digitorum stenosing tenosynovitis, is a pathological condition characterized by a size discrepancy between the flexor tendon/tendon sheath and the A1 pulley, located in the metacarpal head. This pathology causes pain and blockage of the flexion tendon of the finger, with a frequency of 2.6% in the general population, with a higher incidence in the female population, especially in the fifth and sixth decade. The 4th, 3rd and 1st fingers are most involved. trigger finger limits daily activities, such as grasping and holding objects with handles, manipulating coins and buttoning.
The diagnosis is based on the clinical history of transient locking of the finger when flexed with subsequent painful snapping when extended. The trigger phenomenon can be preceded by pain and joint stiffness. The instrumental study, with ultrasound and/or MRI, allows you to monitor the severity of the disease, identify the underlying cause and decide on the appropriate treatment. Surgical treatment should be reserved for those who do not respond to conservative treatment and desire definitive resolution.
A consensus was conducted to identify the consensus treatment guideline for trigger finger, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, orthoses, corticosteroid infiltration and percutaneous release, and surgery. No evidence was found to support the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. There has been evidence regarding the use of an orthosis, because by immobilizing the finger joint, it would prevent the occurrence of a trigger. Corticosteroid infiltration was effective, albeit with shorter-term effects than the orthosis, with high rates of relapses and exacerbations after 6 months. Surgical treatment is reserved for those who do not benefit from conservative therapy and need a definitive result.
93 studies on the registry are indexed under Trigger Finger Disorder; 22 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 40 is below the median of 66 across 75 interventional studies indexed under Trigger Finger Disorder.
Browse Trigger Finger Disorder studies →Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari is the lead sponsor of 47 studies on the registry; 11 are open to participants now.
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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.
Exclusion Criteria:
Previous treatment via physiotherapy, local injection or surgical release for trigger finger within 3 months prior to recruitment.
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.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
3 shock waves sessions, weekly, EDF 1500 pulses, 0.01-0,08 mJ/mm2 (Minilith SL1 Storz, Swiss)
Device: shock waves
use of metacarpophalangeal orthosis for 4-6 weeks
three sessions, weekly frequency
recovery of pain
The visual analog scale (VAS) is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between "no pain" and "worst pain."
Time frame: From enrollment to 1, 3 and 6 months
Trigger frequency
A 0 to 10-point trigger finger rating scale to evaluate this parameter according to a previous study (Tarbhai et al., 2012). This scale is also used to evaluate the severity of the trigger (ST) and the functional impact of the trigger (FIT).
Time frame: From enrollment to 1, 3 and 6 months
Quick-Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH)
The QuickDASH measures the effect of finger problems on function in terms of pain and disability. The scores range from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the more limitation/pain/disability is present. The scores range from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the more limitation/pain/disability is present
Time frame: From enrollment to 1, 3 and 6 months
Plan to share: No
Started Nov 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jan 2027, 13 months after the start.
Of 34 interventional studies with no phase under Trigger Finger Disorder, half reached primary completion within 21 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 7 and three quarters within 41. This study's planned 13 months is below that.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico di Bari