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Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Longitudinal vs. Transverse A1 Pulley Release

Recruiting

Incision Decision: A Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Longitudinal vs. Transverse A1 Pulley Release Outcomes

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Full eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years)
* Diagnosed with trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis) of a finger (excluding the thumb)
* Written informed consent obtained

Exclusion Criteria:

* Revision surgery
* Previous surgery on the affected finger
* Patients refusing consent

About the study

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two different skin incisions used in surgery to treat trigger finger in adult patients. Trigger finger occurs when a finger gets stuck or locks because of swelling of the sheath around the tendons the help move the fingers. The main questions it aims to answer are (1) Does the type of skin cut affect how well the hand works 6 weeks after surgery? (2) Does the type of skin cut affect pain levels, scar healing, and how quickly people return to their normal activities? Orthopaedic surgeons will compare a straight incision along the finger (longitudinal incision) to a incision across the crease in the palm (transverse incision) to see if one type of incision results in better recovery, less pain, a better scar, and higher patient satisfaction with the procedure. Participants who have trigger finger and are indicated for surgery will have surgery to release the pulley in their finger using one of the two types of incisions (assigned by chance). Participants will fill out questionnaires about their hand function and pain before surgery and at follow-up visits. Participants will have their scar checked and rated at about 2, 6, and 12 weeks after surgery, and report on their pain for the first few days after surgery and when they can return to work and move their finger without pain.

What is being tested

Open A1 Pulley Release (procedure)

Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine · Participants: 200 · Started: Apr 1, 2026

Contact the study team

Nisha N Kale, MD · Phone: 314-906-2072
Jason Strezlow, MD · Phone: (314) 514-3500

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07516652

Locations in the U.S.

Illinois	The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago
Missouri	Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Orthopedic Center, St Louis

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.