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Purpose: In the treatment of trigger thumb, inadequate or excessive release of the flexor pulley can lead to secondary complications such as bowstringing. However, few studies detailed bowstringing after surgical release of the A1 pulley for trigger thumb and its influence on hand function.The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the release of the A1 pulley causes bowstringing in the treatment of trigger thumb, and how the percutaneous technique is beneficial to bowstringing and clinical function over open technique. Methods: The author prospectively reviewed 31 patients with resistant trigger thumb who were randomized to undergo either percutaneous release (17 patients) or open release (14 patients) of the A1 pulley. We quantified bowstringing of the thumb using ultrasonography at 12 and 24 weeks after surgery. Clinical outcomes were analyzed to correlate with the ultrasonographic measurements. Results: Each cohort showed a significant improvement in all clinical outcomes (p<0.05), with no difference between the groups at each follow-up (p>0.05). The bowstringing was greater increased at 12 weeks after surgery in both groups compared to before surgery (5.71±1.04 mm vs. 5.20±0.79 mm, p=0.039). However, the difference of those values was not significant at 24 weeks' follow-up (5.02±0.71 mm vs. 4.86±0.33 mm, p=0.671) There was no significant correlation between the bowstringing and any clinical outcome measures (p>0.271). Conclusion: Open A1 pulley release caused greater bowstringing than percutaneous technique at initial after surgery. However, bowstringing did not affect clinical hand function in patients treated with either percutaneous or open technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Trigger thumb is a common condition with a prevalence rate up to 3% among the adults. The main pathophysiology is locking of the flexor tendon at the A1 pulley. Treatments include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, steroid injection, and surgical A1 pulley release. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ultrasound-guided percutaneous release of trigger thumb. Methods: The author prospectively reviewed 37 patients who had undergone ultrasound-guided percutaneous release by the same surgeon from January 2012 to June 2014. The effect of ultrasound-guided A1 pulley release was evaluated by using visual analogue scale (VAS) score, disabilities of arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score, and grip and pinch strengths preoperatively and at 12weeks after the surgery. In addition, complications related with the procedure were evaluated. Results: Triggering and locking were resolved in all patients after surgery. VAS and DASH improved from 5.0±1.8 and 45.8±16.9 preoperatively to 0.3±0.6 and 16.2±6.3 at 12 weeks, respectively (p=0.019 and p=0.021). Grip and pinch strengths statistically improved from33.5±8.6 kg and 36.7±8.1 kg, preoperatively 46.2±6.1 kg and 47.1±7.4 kg, respectively (p=0.026 and p=0.041). Complications such as incomplete resection, neurologic symptoms or wound infection were not found throughout the period of the study. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous A1 pulley release provides complete relief of symptoms with no major complication in trigger thumb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]