A Comparison of the Outcomes of Open Trigger Release versus Ultrasound-Guided Modified Small Needle-Knife Percutaneous Release for Treatment of Trigger Digits

Background: The aim of this randomised prospective study is to compare the outcomes of traditional open trigger digit release versus ultrasound-guided modified small needle-knife (SNK) percutaneous release in the treatment of trigger digits.Methods: Patients with grade 2 and above trigger digits were enrolled into the study and randomly assigned to traditional open surgery (OS) or ultrasound-guided modified SNK percutaneous release group. The patients were followed up for 7, 30 and 180 days after treatment and data with regard to visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Quinnell grading (QG) was collected and compared between the two groups.Results: A total of 72 patients were enrolled in the study with 30 in the OS group and 42 in the SNK group. VAS scores and QG of the two groups significantly decreased at 7 days and 30 days after treatment compared to before treatment, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. There was also no differences between the two groups at 180 days and between the values at 30 days and 180 days.Conclusions: The outcomes of ultrasound-guided SNK percutaneous release is similar to traditional OS.