Trigger FingerNCT07681804
Betamethasone vs Dextrose Injections in Trigger Finger
A study testing Betamethasone and Dextrose Injection in people with Trigger Finger, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided betamethasone and dextrose injections in patients with trigger finger. Trigger finger is a common hand condition characterized by pain, clicking, and locking of the finger due to tendon entrapment at the A1 pulley. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Trigger Finger
- What is being tested?
- Betamethasone and Dextrose Injection
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 42 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 30 Jun 2026to May 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18 and 75 years
- Clinical diagnosis of trigger finger
- Presence of symptoms for at least 4 weeks
Who cannot join
- Previous surgery on the affected finger
- Injection treatment to the affected finger within the previous 3 months
- Active local or systemic infection
- Active malignancy
- Active inflammatory rheumatic disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, vasculitis)
- Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and/or uncontrolled hypertension
Show all 11Show fewer
- Autoimmune connective tissue diseases (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren syndrome, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, adult-onset Still's disease)
- Coagulopathy that increases the risk of injection procedures
- Pregnancy
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to lidocaine, betamethasone, or dextrose
- Mental impairment or severe psychiatric disorder that may interfere with study participation or informed consent
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine
Istanbul, 34098
Merve Yıldız, MD, +905350229993, merveyildizdr@gmail.com
Merve Yıldız, MD
About this study
Official title: Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Betamethasone and Dextrose Injections in the Treatment of Trigger Finger: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study aims to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided betamethasone and dextrose injections in patients with trigger finger.
Trigger finger is a common hand condition characterized by pain, clicking, and locking of the finger due to tendon entrapment at the A1 pulley. Corticosteroid injections are widely used as a first-line treatment; however, they may be associated with potential side effects.
Read more
Dextrose injection is an alternative treatment that may promote tissue healing through regenerative mechanisms. However, there is limited high-quality evidence regarding its effectiveness in trigger finger.
In this randomized controlled trial, patients will be assigned to receive either betamethasone or dextrose injection under ultrasound guidance. The primary outcome will be pain intensity measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes will include triggering severity, hand function, grip and pinch strength, and fine motor skills evaluated over a 12-week follow-up period.
The results of this study may help determine whether dextrose injection is a safe and effective alternative to corticosteroid treatment in trigger finger.
Read the detailed description
Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a common hand disorder characterized by pain, catching, and locking of the affected digit due to impaired gliding of the flexor tendon at the A1 pulley. It can significantly impair hand function and quality of life.
Corticosteroid injections are widely accepted as an effective first-line treatment for trigger finger. However, potential adverse effects such as skin atrophy, tendon rupture, and systemic effects, particularly in patients with metabolic disorders, have led to increasing interest in alternative treatment options.
Dextrose injection has emerged as a potential alternative treatment modality in musculoskeletal disorders. However, there is limited high-quality evidence evaluating its effectiveness in trigger finger.
The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled trial is to compare the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound-guided betamethasone injection and dextrose injection in patients with trigger finger.
Eligible participants aged 18 to 75 years with clinically diagnosed trigger finger of at least 4 weeks' duration will be enrolled. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine and 1 ml betamethasone, while the other group will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine and 1 ml 30% dextrose solution (resulting in a final concentration of 15% dextrose). All injections will be performed under sterile conditions at the A1 pulley level.
The study is designed as a randomized, participant-, injector-, and assessor-blinded trial. The injector will be blinded to the injectate using opaque-covered syringes. Randomization will be performed by an independent researcher who will not be involved in outcome assessment.
The primary outcome of the study is the change in pain intensity, assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS).
Secondary outcomes include triggering severity assessed using the Modified Quinnell classification, functional status assessed using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire, grip and pinch strength, and fine motor skills evaluated with the Purdue Pegboard test.
Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline, 1 hour, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after injection, according to the predefined schedule of each outcome measure.
This study is expected to provide high-quality evidence regarding the effectiveness of dextrose injection as a potential alternative to corticosteroid treatment in trigger finger.
- Conditions
- Trigger Finger
- Being tested
- Betamethasone, Dextrose Injection
- Keywords
- Trigger finger, Stenosing tenosynovitis, Ultrasound-guided injection, Betamethasone injection, Dextrose injection, A1 pulley, QuickDASH, Modified Quinnell classification
- Medical subject headings
- Trigger Finger Disorder, Tendon Entrapment
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
BetamethasoneDrug
Also called Corticosteroid injection
Ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine combined with 1 ml betamethasone administered at the A1 pulley level for the treatment of trigger finger.
Dextrose InjectionOther
Ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine combined with 1 ml 30% dextrose solution resulting in a final concentration of 15% dextrose, administered at the A1 pulley level for the treatment of trigger finger.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Betamethasone Injection | Active comparator | Participants in this arm will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine combined with 1 ml betamethasone at the A1 pulley level for the treatment of trigger finger. Receives: Drug: Betamethasone |
| Dextrose Injection | Active comparator | Participants in this arm will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine combined with 1 ml 30% dextrose solution (final concentration 15%) at the A1 pulley level for the treatment of trigger finger. Receives: Other: Dextrose Injection |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in pain intensity assessed by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Pain intensity will be evaluated using the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst imaginable pain.
Measured: Baseline, 1 hour, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (5)
Change in triggering severity assessed by Modified Quinnell classification
Triggering severity will be evaluated using the Modified Quinnell classification system.
Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in hand function assessed by QuickDASH
Functional status will be assessed using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire.
Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in grip strength
Grip strength will be measured using a hand dynamometer.
Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in pinch strength
Pinch strength will be measured using a pinch meter.
Measured: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in fine motor skills assessed by Purdue Pegboard test
Fine motor skills and manual dexterity will be evaluated using the Purdue Pegboard test.
Measured: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Jul 2026
- Study start30 Jun 2026
- Primary completionApr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionMay 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Trigger FingerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized into two parallel groups to receive either ultrasound-guided betamethasone injection or ultrasound-guided dextrose injection.
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Merve Yıldız, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07681804
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- TF-Dextrose-2026
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 28 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: The investigators have not yet determined whether de-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be shared. If data sharing is approved after completion of the study and publication of the primary results, the de-identified dataset underlying the reported outcomes may be made available. Any decision regarding data sharing will be based on institutional policies, ethical approval, participant confidentiality, and applicable regulations.
Publications
Liu DH, Tsai MW, Lin SH, Chou CL, Chiu JW, Chiang CC, Kao CL. Ultrasound-Guided Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Trigger Finger: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 Dec;96(12):2120-7. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2015.08.421. Epub 2015 Sep 1.
PubMed 26340807Rahman AN, Herman H, Bujangga KG, Sugiarto J. Grade III bilateral trigger thumbs treated by prolotherapy: a case report. World Journal of Current Medical and Pharmaceutical Research. 2022;4(6):143-146.
Yoon Y, Hwang JH, Lee J, Suryadi T, Suhaimi A, Shim J, Lam KHS. Unusual Triggering of the Finger Caused by Distal Flexor Tendinopathy: Successful Treatment With Ultrasound-Guided Prolotherapy. Cureus. 2025 Dec 19;17(12):e99605. doi: 10.7759/cureus.99605. eCollection 2025 Dec.
PubMed 41555987
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Betamethasone and Dextrose Injections in the Treatment of Trigger Finger: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07681804
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TF-Dextrose-2026
- Conditions
- Trigger Finger
- Keywords
- Trigger finger, Stenosing tenosynovitis, Ultrasound-guided injection, Betamethasone injection, Dextrose injection, A1 pulley, QuickDASH, Modified Quinnell classification
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 42 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - CerrahpasaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Apr 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided betamethasone and dextrose injections in patients with trigger finger.
Trigger finger is a common hand condition characterized by pain, clicking, and locking of the finger due to tendon entrapment at the A1 pulley. Corticosteroid injections are widely used as a first-line treatment; however, they may be associated with potential side effects.
Dextrose injection is an alternative treatment that may promote tissue healing through regenerative mechanisms. However, there is limited high-quality evidence regarding its effectiveness in trigger finger.
In this randomized controlled trial, patients will be assigned to receive either betamethasone or dextrose injection under ultrasound guidance. The primary outcome will be pain intensity measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Secondary outcomes will include triggering severity, hand function, grip and pinch strength, and fine motor skills evaluated over a 12-week follow-up period.
The results of this study may help determine whether dextrose injection is a safe and effective alternative to corticosteroid treatment in trigger finger.
Detailed description
Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a common hand disorder characterized by pain, catching, and locking of the affected digit due to impaired gliding of the flexor tendon at the A1 pulley. It can significantly impair hand function and quality of life.
Corticosteroid injections are widely accepted as an effective first-line treatment for trigger finger. However, potential adverse effects such as skin atrophy, tendon rupture, and systemic effects, particularly in patients with metabolic disorders, have led to increasing interest in alternative treatment options.
Dextrose injection has emerged as a potential alternative treatment modality in musculoskeletal disorders. However, there is limited high-quality evidence evaluating its effectiveness in trigger finger.
The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled trial is to compare the clinical effectiveness of ultrasound-guided betamethasone injection and dextrose injection in patients with trigger finger.
Eligible participants aged 18 to 75 years with clinically diagnosed trigger finger of at least 4 weeks' duration will be enrolled. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine and 1 ml betamethasone, while the other group will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine and 1 ml 30% dextrose solution (resulting in a final concentration of 15% dextrose). All injections will be performed under sterile conditions at the A1 pulley level.
The study is designed as a randomized, participant-, injector-, and assessor-blinded trial. The injector will be blinded to the injectate using opaque-covered syringes. Randomization will be performed by an independent researcher who will not be involved in outcome assessment.
The primary outcome of the study is the change in pain intensity, assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS).
Secondary outcomes include triggering severity assessed using the Modified Quinnell classification, functional status assessed using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire, grip and pinch strength, and fine motor skills evaluated with the Purdue Pegboard test.
Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline, 1 hour, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after injection, according to the predefined schedule of each outcome measure.
This study is expected to provide high-quality evidence regarding the effectiveness of dextrose injection as a potential alternative to corticosteroid treatment in trigger finger.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomized into two parallel groups to receive either ultrasound-guided betamethasone injection or ultrasound-guided dextrose injection.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Betamethasone Injection | Active comparator | Drug: BetamethasoneParticipants in this arm will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine combined with 1 ml betamethasone at the A1 pulley level for the treatment of trigger finger. |
| Dextrose Injection | Active comparator | Other: Dextrose InjectionParticipants in this arm will receive an ultrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine combined with 1 ml 30% dextrose solution (final concentration 15%) at the A1 pulley level for the treatment of trigger finger. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Age between 18 and 75 years
- Clinical diagnosis of trigger finger
- Presence of symptoms for at least 4 weeks
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Previous surgery on the affected finger
- Injection treatment to the affected finger within the previous 3 months
- Active local or systemic infection
- Active malignancy
- Active inflammatory rheumatic disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, vasculitis)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| BetamethasoneAlso: Corticosteroid injectionUltrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine combined with 1 ml betamethasone administered at the A1 pulley level for the treatment of trigger finger. | Drug | Betamethasone Injection |
| Dextrose InjectionUltrasound-guided injection of 1 ml lidocaine combined with 1 ml 30% dextrose solution resulting in a final concentration of 15% dextrose, administered at the A1 pulley level for the treatment of trigger finger. | Other | Dextrose Injection |
Primary outcome
Change in pain intensity assessed by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
Time frame: Baseline, 1 hour, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Pain intensity will be evaluated using the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates worst imaginable pain.
5 secondary outcomes
Change in triggering severity assessed by Modified Quinnell classification
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in hand function assessed by QuickDASH
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in grip strength
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in pinch strength
Time frame: Baseline, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Change in fine motor skills assessed by Purdue Pegboard test
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Jul 2026.
- Background: PubMed 26340807Liu DH, Tsai MW, Lin SH, Chou CL, Chiu JW, Chiang CC, Kao CL. Ultrasound-Guided Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Trigger Finger: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 Dec;96(12):2120-7. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2015.08.421. Epub 2015 Sep 1.
- BackgroundRahman AN, Herman H, Bujangga KG, Sugiarto J. Grade III bilateral trigger thumbs treated by prolotherapy: a case report. World Journal of Current Medical and Pharmaceutical Research. 2022;4(6):143-146.
- Background: PubMed 41555987Yoon Y, Hwang JH, Lee J, Suryadi T, Suhaimi A, Shim J, Lam KHS. Unusual Triggering of the Finger Caused by Distal Flexor Tendinopathy: Successful Treatment With Ultrasound-Guided Prolotherapy. Cureus. 2025 Dec 19;17(12):e99605. doi: 10.7759/cureus.99605. eCollection 2025 Dec.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. The investigators have not yet determined whether de-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be shared. If data sharing is approved after completion of the study and publication of the primary results, the de-identified dataset underlying the reported outcomes may be made available. Any decision regarding data sharing will be based on institutional policies, ethical approval, participant confidentiality, and applicable regulations.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Betamethasone and Dextrose Injection in people with Trigger Finger, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Merve Yıldız, MD (+905350229993, merveyildizdr@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in pain intensity assessed by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (time frame: Baseline, 1 hour, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07681804, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Jul 2026.