Principal Investigator

Trigger finger (T.F) is a disorder characterized by snapping or locking of a finger. Painful popping or clicking sound is elicited by flexion and extension of the involved digit . It is a multifactorial disease. The common mechanism of triggering is that there is a mismatch of diameter between flexors tendons and the annular pulley (retinacular sheath) of the finger. Some studies found inflammatory cells as a part of the pathology, hence anti-inflammatory drugs are the first line of treatment .

Therapeutic ultrasound (US) is a form of acoustic energy which is often used in physical therapy. When US enters the body, it can affect the cells and tissues through thermal and non-thermal mechanisms. While a thermal mechanism has a direct heating effect which promotes anti-inflammatory response with increase blood flow, evidence indicates, however, that non thermal mechanisms are thought to play a primary role in producing a therapeutically significant biological effect (i.e. the stimulation of tissue regeneration) . So my question is in T.F patients does therapeutic ultrasound decrease pain more than anti-inflammatory drugs?