Effect of Therapeutic Ultrasound Versus Anti-inflammatory Drugs in the Treatment of Trigger Finger

to determine the effect of US on pain intensity in TF patients 2) to determine the effect of US on number of daily finger triggering in TF patients.

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?

Therapeutic ultrasound application. US parameters are 0.8 W/cm for intensity, 3 MHz for frequency and 5 min application. The device that will be used is medserve, England (the head of the device is 5cm). The physical therapy will by 6 sessions (every day). PT sessions will be done by the same physical therapist.

group B will have a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug as prescribed by the same orthopedist and 2 session of massage with the head of ultrasound.

Inclusion Criteria: 1 - patients will be included to this study if they are trigger finger patients ( clinically evaluated and refereed by orthopedist). Exclusion Criteria: 1 - complete locked finger. 2-Ages below 18 y. 3-Patients with any other hand pathology .