“How effective is a splint for trigger finger syndrome?”
I noticed that I have trigger finger syndrome, and I'm researching treatment options for it. How effective is a splint for treatment?
9 Answers
I have seen it help, but not always long term.
It sounds like you should be evaluated by a Board-Certified Fellowship-Trained Hand surgeon.
I'd be happy to see you.
please call 413-582-2600 to make an appointment.
It sounds like you should be evaluated by a Board-Certified Fellowship-Trained Hand surgeon.
I'd be happy to see you.
please call 413-582-2600 to make an appointment.
Splinting has no effect - in fact, it can worsen a trigger fingermild trigger - NSAIDs moderate/severe — injection or surgery.
First line of treatment is splinting and anti-inflammatories. Success depends on the cause of the trigger finger and if you have diabetes, thyroid problems or other medical conditions complicating the picture. Voltaren gel is now available as a topical anti-inflammatory and may be a good choice to try along with sleeping in the splint.
Success rate is about 50% with splinting.
Success rate is about 50% with splinting.
It can be effective if you are in the earlier stages of trigger finger. I would recommend wearing it at night to start.
It’s hit or miss to control the symptoms. Rarely is it a cure. But there is some anecdotal evidence that splinting at night can keep things under control for a while.
It is important to always seek a medical evaluation by a licensed professional to ensure it is not the manifestation of something more serious. You also want to seek help sooner rather than later to prevent any further damage to the area.
A splint can be effective but it must be the proper one. A simple splint worn along the finger will prevent locking but can add stiffness. A yoke or relative motion splint made by a hand surgeon or therapist functions better mechanically. However, splints but may not be suitable in all scenarios. Splints are just one mode of Rx for trigger fingers. NSAIDs, cortisone injections and surgery are used as well.
There are some studies that demonstrate some effectiveness with splinting, but others do not. I have personally not found splinting to be too effective. It is more effective if the trigger is mild and not chronic. I think that it is most helpful at night, especially if the trigger locks into flexion at night. All studies show that cortisone injections are the most effective non-operative treatment for trigger fingers. Cortisone injections have been shown to be curative in anywhere from 50-75% of the time.
Not effective. Steroid injection is first choice for conservative treatment.
