Efficacy Comparison of Hyaluronic Acid and Corticosteroid Injection in Treatment of Trigger Digits: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of hyaluronic acid injections on pain and functioning in patients affected by tendinopathies: A narrative review

BACKGROUND

Tendinopathies are overuse tendon injuries showing load-dependant pain, stiffness, weakness of movement in the affected area, and impairment in the movements. The scientific interest on the role of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) for the management of tendinopathies has been increased due to its anti-inflammatory and lubricative properties.

OBJECTIVE

To collect evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of HA injections in reducing pain in patients affected by tendinopathies.

METHODS

A scientific literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Medline and PEDro electronic databases. The databases were searched since their inception until July 2021. The search was limited to English language articles. Different combinations of the terms and MeSH terms "tendinopathy", "tendinosis", "tendinitis", "hyaluronic acid", "hyaluronate", "infiltration", "hyaluronic injections", "viscosupplementation" connected with various boolean operators were used for other electronic databases.

RESULTS

One hundred and one records were identified from the selected databases plus three additional papers identified by the authors through other sources. After removing duplicated papers and title/abstract screening, 19 studies were included in our review (eight papers on shoulder, three on elbow, four on hand, one on knee, and three on ankle).

CONCLUSION

The results showed that none of the studies report severe adverse effects and most of them support the use of HA injections in tendinopathies, with a special attention to pain reduction and functional assessment. Further studies are warranted to better investigate effects and methods of administration of HA in tendinopathies.

The Role of Hyaluronic Acid for Soft Tissue Indications: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

CONTEXT

Soft tissue injuries are often treated with injectables such as corticosteroids and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to reduce inflammation and promote healing. There is increasing evidence examining the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) for the management of soft tissue injuries.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the treatment effect and role of HA for available soft tissue indications.

DATA SOURCES

A search of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL from the inception date of each database through February 24, 2021, was conducted for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving the use of HA for soft tissue indications. Two reviewers independently screened articles for eligibility and extracted data from included studies for analysis. We assessed risk of bias for all included studies and pooled outcomes using a fixed-effects model. Outcomes (ie, function and pain relief) were categorized to short-term (<6 weeks, 6-12 weeks) and mid-term (>12 weeks) data. We present effect estimates as mean differences (MDs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) and present the estimate of effect of HA for available indications in relation to available comparators.

STUDY DESIGN

Meta-analysis of RCTs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 1.

RESULTS

Of the 6930 articles screened, 19 RCTs (n = 1629 patients) were eligible and included in this review. HA was evaluated across a variety of soft tissue indications including rotator cuff disease, elbow pain, ankle sprains, Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy, and trigger finger. Of the 19 RCTs, 11 were placebo-controlled and 9 used active comparators (PRP, cortisone, prolotherapy, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy). The pooled treatment effect of HA across most soft indications against placebo and active comparators demonstrated benefit in short-term pain <6 weeks (MD visual analogue scale [VAS] 2.48, 95% CI 2.31-2.65) and 6 to 12 weeks (MD VAS 2.03, 95% CI 1.86-2.20). Mid-term pain relief also favored HA over comparators across indications >12 weeks from administration (MD VAS 3.57, 95% CI 3.35-3.78). High heterogeneity was present with rotator cuff (10 trials, I² = 94%), and elbow tendinopathy (2 trials, I² = 99%). We identified uncertain benefit for trigger finger (2 trials, I² = 67%). Heterogeneity for ankle sprains, patellar tendinopathy and Achilles tendinopathy could not be assessed as they only had 1 trial each.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review and meta-analysis support HA's efficacy in the treatment of a variety of soft tissue indications. Understanding the relative effects of HA to other injectable modalities requires additional, large trials.

Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid (500-730 Kda) Injections in Tendinopathies-A Narrative Review

Tendinopathies are common causes of pain and disability in general population and athletes. Conservative treatment is largely preferred, and eccentric exercise or other modalities of therapeutic exercises are recommended. However, this approach requests several weeks of consecutive treatment and could be discouraging. In the last years, injections of different formulations were evaluated to accelerate functional recovery in combination with usual therapy. Hyaluronic acid (HA) preparations were proposed, in particular LMW-HA (500-730 kDa) for its unique molecular characteristics in favored extracellular matrix homeostasis and tenocyte viability. The purpose of our review is to evaluate the state-of-the-art about the role of 500-730 kDa in tendinopathies considering both preclinical and clinical findings and encourage further research on this emerging topic.

Use of a Percutaneous Needle Release Technique for Trigger Thumb: A Retrospective Study of 11 Patients from a Single Center

Background

Trigger finger is a very common disorder that occurs in both adults and children. Trigger finger presents mainly as pain and limited movement of the affected digit. This report describes a modified percutaneous needle release and an evaluation of its clinical efficacy to treat trigger thumb.

Material/Methods

Trigger thumb of 11 patients was released percutaneously using a specially designed needle (0.8×100 mm) with a planus tip. Complete release was ensured when no more grating sound was heard and the needle moved freely at the tip. Pain-related functional score was evaluated preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively. Resolution of Notta’s node, triggered or locked, Quinnell’s criteria, and patient satisfaction were also assessed at 3 months after the operation.

Results

After the percutaneous trigger thumb release, the overall visual analog scale (VAS) and pain-related functional scores declined significantly (P<0.01). There was no recurrence of thumb locking or triggering or Notta’s node. Only the first patient had incomplete release of the first annular pulley, and all patients showed high satisfaction with the procedure at 3 months after their operation. During the study, patients did not experience any complications such as inflammation, edema, or digital nerve injury.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the percutaneous technique is effective, less time-consuming, and safe for treating trigger thumb. Our release technique using a specially designed percutaneous needle is a valuable treatment for trigger thumb.

Evaluation of the first annular pulley stretch effect under isometric contraction of the flexor tendon in healthy volunteers and trigger finger patients using ultrasonography

Background

Isometric exercises for a flexed finger have been reported to be effective for treating trigger finger as the flexor tendon widens the space under the first annular (A1) pulley towards the palmar destination during the exercise. This study aimed to evaluate the structural changes during the A1 pulley stretch in healthy volunteers and patients with trigger finger using ultrasonography.

Methods

We enrolled 25 male and 14 female patients (39 middle fingers). The thickness of the subcutaneous tissue (parameter a), A1 pulley (parameter b), and the flexor tendon (parameter c) and the distance between the dorsal surface of the flexor tendon and the palmar surface of the metacarpal head (parameter d) were measured using ultrasonography of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the middle finger flexed at 45° at rest (pattern A) and under isometric contraction of the flexor tendon against an extension force of the proximal interphalangeal joint (pattern B).

Results

The average differences between patterns A and B in the healthy volunteers were 0.29 mm (parameter a; P = 0.02), 0.017 mm (parameter b; P = 0.63), 0.16 (parameter c; P = 0.26), and 0.41 (parameter d; P = 0.004), and those in patients with trigger finger were 0.22 mm (parameter a; P = 0.23), 0.019 mm (parameter b; P = 0.85), 0.03 mm (parameter c; P = 0.82), and 0.78 mm (parameter d; P < 0.001). The distance between the dorsal side of the A1 pulley and the palmar surface of the metacarpal head was also significantly increased by 0.57 mm (8.2%) in healthy volunteers (P < 0.001) and 0.81 mm (11%) in patients with trigger finger (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In this study, the space under the A1 pulley was expanded under isometric contraction of the flexor tendon. These findings support the effectiveness of pulley stretch exercises for the trigger finger condition.

Hand Surgery in Thailand

Modern hand surgery in Thailand started after the end of World War II. It is divided into 4 phases. In the initial phase (1950-1965), the surgery of the hand was mainly performed by general surgeons. In 1965-1975, which was the second phase, many plastic surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons graduated from foreign countries and came back to Thailand. They played a vital role in the treatment of the surgery of the hand and set up hand units in many centers. They also contributed to the establishment of the "Thai Society for Surgery of the Hand," which still continues to operate. In the third phase (1975-2000), there was a dramatic development of microsurgery because of the rapid economic expansion. There were many replantation, free tissue transfers, and brachial plexus surgeries in traffic and factory-related accidents. The first hand-fellow training program began in 1993. In the fourth phase (since 2000), the number of hand injuries from factory-related accidents began declining. But the injury from traffic accidents had been increasing both in severity and number. Moreover, the diseases of hand that relate to aging and degeneration had been on the rise. Thai hand surgeons have been using several state-of-the-art technologies such as arthroscopic and endoscopic surgery. They are continuing to invent innovations, generating international publications, and frequently being invited as speakers in foreign countries.

Comparative effectiveness of various treatment strategies for trigger finger by pairwise meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of various strategies in the treatment of trigger finger.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic literature search for randomized controlled trials to compare treatments for trigger finger was conducted through three online databases, Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library, from their inception dates to 22 May 2020.

METHODS

Relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to evaluate the effect sizes in success rate for included articles.

RESULTS

Sixteen articles (n = 1185) were included in our meta-analysis. The results showed that the efficacy of steroid injection was significantly better than the placebo group at short-term follow-ups (RR = 19.00, 95% CI = 1.17-309.77 for one-week; RR = 3.70, 95% CI = 3.70, 95% CI = 1.61-8.53 for one-month), and then became non-significant at four months (RR = 3.21, 95% CI = 0.88-11.79). There was no significant difference in success rate between steroid injection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug injection, and between open surgery and percutaneous release at all the follow-ups. Only surgical treatment had significantly better efficacy in success rate than steroid injection at all follow-ups (RR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.34-0.66 for one-month; RR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.80-0.96 for three-month; RR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.48-0.68 for six-month; RR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.20-0.72 for 12-month).

CONCLUSION

There were no differences in efficacy between steroid injection and shockwave or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug injection. The surgical treatments had the best efficacy among these treatments.