Low-Level Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Trigger Finger

Summary

Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is one of the most common disorders affecting the hand. Its lifetime prevalence is 2-3%. Patients typically present with locking of the affected finger during flexion and painful catching during extension. In mild cases, pain, swelling, and morning stiffness may be present without triggering. In more severe cases, the affected finger may become locked in flexion.

Conservative treatment methods, corticosteroid injections, and surgical interventions can be used in the treatment of trigger finger. Conservative treatment options include activity modification, splint immobilization, exercise programs, massage, physical therapy modalities including extracorporeal shock wave therapy and therapeutic ultrasound, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Splinting is an inexpensive and effective treatment option for trigger finger.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a treatment modality based on photobiomodulation, which leads to biological changes in living organisms through the interaction of photons with atoms or molecules. LLLT is used to promote wound healing and tissue repair, prevent tissue damage, reduce inflammation and edema, and provide analgesia. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of LLLT in the treatment of various musculoskeletal disorders.

This study aims to investigate the effects of adding active LLLT to splint treatment in patients with trigger finger. Patients receiving active LLLT plus splint treatment will be compared with those receiving sham LLLT plus splint treatment in terms of clinical and ultrasonographic outcomes.

Conditions

• Trigger Finger
• Stenosing Tenosynovitis
• Trigger Digit

Interventions

DEVICE

Low Level Laser Therapy

Low-level laser therapy will be administered three times per week for 4 weeks using a BTL-4000 Smart laser therapy device and the following treatment parameters: a wavelength of 830 nm, an output power of 50 mW, continuous mode, and an energy density of 4 J/cm². All participants will also receive a metacarpophalangeal joint blocking splint for 4 weeks.

DEVICE

Sham Low Level Laser Therapy

Sham low-level laser therapy will be administered three times per week for 4 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions, using a BTL-4000 Smart laser therapy device that will remain switched off throughout each session. To maintain participant blinding, participants in both groups will wear headphones and an eye mask during each treatment session. All participants will also receive a metacarpophalangeal joint blocking splint for 4 weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Dokuz Eylul University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Elif Akalın, Prof, MD · Dokuz Eylul University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-08-07

Primary Completion

2026-08-31

Completion

2026-12-31

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations