Efficacy analysis of three kinds of surgery for trigger thumb

Purpose To study the efficacy of three kinds of surgery for trigger thumb. Methods A total of 60 cases of trigger thumb (Quinnell Grade IV) were randomly divided into three groups. The A1 pulley was disconnected at the middle in Group A, at the extreme radial side in Group B, excised in Group C. The following indicators were recorded pre-operatively (D0), and at one (D1), three (D3), seven (D7), 14 (D14), and 28 (D28) days post-operatively: 1. the pain visual analogue score (VAS) when flexing the affected thumb; 2. range of motion (ROM) of the interphalangeal joint with pain tolerance; 3. the time of pain disappearance when flexing the affected thumb. Results The differences of VAS and ROM between D1 and D0, D3 and D1, D7 and D3, D14 and D7, D28 and D14 were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in changes of VAS (or ROM) at D1 or D28 in contrast to D0 among the three groups. The differences of VAS (or ROM) changes at D3, D7, and D14 in contrast to D0 among the three groups were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). The difference of the time when the pain disappearing in the normal range of motion among the three groups were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Disconnecting the A1-pulley at the extreme radial side is better than another two methods for treating the trigger thumb (Quinnell Grade IV). It has been shown to effectively accelerate postoperative pain relief and functional recovery. Trial registration Clinical trial registry number: ChiCTR2100051193.