Background: Orthotic intervention is a non-invasive and commonly used treatment for trigger finger (TF). Among the various splinting options, the comparative effectiveness of proximal interphalangeal joint block orthosis (PIPJ-BO) and metacarpophalangeal joint block orthosis (MCPJ-BO) remains inadequately explored. This study compared the clinical effectiveness of PIPJ-BO and MCPJ-BO in reducing pain, symptom severity, and functional limitations in patients with TF. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Forty-six patients diagnosed with TF (Quinnell grade ≥2) were assigned to either PIPJ-BO (Group A) or MCPJ-BO (Group B). Both groups wore the orthosis 18 hours daily for eight weeks and performed tendon gliding exercises. Outcomes assessed at baseline, four weeks, and eight weeks included the Quinnell grade, Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), grip strength, and triggering episodes. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results: Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in Q-grade and NPRS over time (p .05). Grip strength improved numerically but not significantly. Discussion: Both PIPJ-BO and MCPJ-BO were effective in the conservative management of TF. While intergroup differences were not statistically significant, PIPJ-BO showed a slightly greater reduction in symptoms. Early orthotic intervention remains beneficial and should be tailored to patient-specific factors.
Kataruka et al. (Mon,) studied this question.