An interventional study of Betamethasone and Dextrose Injection in Trigger Finger, sponsored by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-28.
Sponsored by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
This study aims to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided betamethasone and dextrose injections in patients with trigger finger.
Trigger finger is a common hand condition characterized by pain, clicking, and locking of the finger due to tendon entrapment at the A1 pulley. Corticosteroid injections are widely used as a first-line treatment; however, they may be associated with potential side effects.
Dextrose injection is an alternative treatment that may promote tissue healing through regenerative mechanisms. However, there is limited high-quality evidence regarding its effectiveness in trigger finger.
In this randomized controlled trial, patients will be assigned to receive either betamethasone or dextrose injection under ultrasound guidance. The primary outcome will be pain intensity measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes will include triggering severity, hand function, grip and pinch strength, and fine motor skills evaluated over a 12-week follow-up period.
The results of this study may help determine whether dextrose injection is a safe and effective alternative to corticosteroid treatment in trigger finger.
Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a common hand disorder characterized by pain, catching, and locking of the affected digit due to impaired gliding of the flexor tendon at the A1 pulley. It can significantly impair hand function and quality of life.
Corticosteroid injections are widely accepted as an effective first-line treatment for trigger finger. However, potential adverse effects such as skin atrophy, tendon rupture, and systemic effects, particularly in patients with metabolic disorders, have led to increasing interest in alternative treatment options.
Dextrose injection has emerged as a potential alternative treatment modality in musculoskeletal disorders. However, there is limited high-quality evidence evaluating its effectiveness in trigger finger.
The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled trial is to compare the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound-guided betamethasone injection and dextrose injection in patients with trigger finger.
Eligible participants aged 18 to 75 years with clinically diagnosed trigger finger of at least 4 weeks' duration will be enrolled. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine and 1 ml betamethasone, while the other group will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine and 1 ml 30% dextrose solution (resulting in a final concentration of 15% dextrose). All injections will be performed under sterile conditions at the A1 pulley level.
The study is designed as a randomized, participant-, injector-, and assessor-blinded trial. The injector will be blinded to the injectate using opaque-covered syringes. Randomization will be performed by an independent researcher who will not be involved in outcome assessment.
The primary outcome of the study is the change in pain intensity, assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS).
Secondary outcomes include triggering severity assessed using the Modified Quinnell classification, functional status assessed using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire, grip and pinch strength, and fine motor skills evaluated with the Purdue Pegboard test.
Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline, 1 hour, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after injection, according to the predefined schedule of each outcome measure.
This study is expected to provide high-quality evidence regarding the effectiveness of dextrose injection as a potential alternative to corticosteroid treatment in trigger finger.
93 studies on the registry are indexed under Trigger Finger Disorder; 22 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 42 is below the median of 66 across 75 interventional studies indexed under Trigger Finger Disorder.
Browse Trigger Finger Disorder studies →Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa is the lead sponsor of 699 studies on the registry; 213 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:
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.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
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.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Autoimmune disease
A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.
Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
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.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants in this arm will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine combined with 1 ml betamethasone at the A1 pulley level for the treatment of trigger finger.
Drug: Betamethasone
Participants in this arm will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine combined with 1 ml 30% dextrose solution (final concentration 15%) at the A1 pulley level for the treatment of trigger finger.
Other: Dextrose Injection
Ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine combined with 1 ml betamethasone administered at the A1 pulley level for the treatment of trigger finger.
Also known as: Corticosteroid injection
Ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine combined with 1 ml 30% dextrose solution resulting in a final concentration of 15% dextrose, administered at the A1 pulley level for the treatment of trigger finger.
Change in pain intensity assessed by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Pain intensity will be evaluated using the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst imaginable pain.
Time frame: Baseline, 1 hour, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in triggering severity assessed by Modified Quinnell classification
Triggering severity will be evaluated using the Modified Quinnell classification system.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in hand function assessed by QuickDASH
Functional status will be assessed using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in grip strength
Grip strength will be measured using a hand dynamometer.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in pinch strength
Pinch strength will be measured using a pinch meter.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in fine motor skills assessed by Purdue Pegboard test
Fine motor skills and manual dexterity will be evaluated using the Purdue Pegboard test.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Plan to share: Undecided — The investigators have not yet determined whether de-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be shared. If data sharing is approved after completion of the study and publication of the primary results, the de-identified dataset underlying the reported outcomes may be made available. Any decision regarding data sharing will be based on institutional policies, ethical approval, participant confidentiality, and applicable regulations.
Started Jun 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Apr 2027, 10 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 10 months is below that.
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Studies of the drug tested here: Betamethasone
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa →