Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39779364›Full record

ArticleSaudi medical journal2025

Comparing the long-term effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy and therapeutic ultrasound in treating trigger finger: A prospective cohort study.

Reem M Alfaifi, Alaa A Juraybi, Abdulrahman M Alrashed, Abdullah M Alghidani, Hana M Alfaifi

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Saudi medical journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Effects of cassava wax immersion on pain, pressure pain threshold, and upper extremity function among patients with trigger finger.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liao · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Reem M AlfaifiFrom the Physiotherapy Department (R. Alfaifi, Juraybi, Alrashed, Alghidani) Al-Rass General Hospital, Al-Rass; from the Neurosurgery Department (H. Alfaifi), Abha Maternity and Child Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7948-1774
Alaa A JuraybiFrom the Physiotherapy Department (R. Alfaifi, Juraybi, Alrashed, Alghidani) Al-Rass General Hospital, Al-Rass; from the Neurosurgery Department (H. Alfaifi), Abha Maternity and Child Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrahman M AlrashedFrom the Physiotherapy Department (R. Alfaifi, Juraybi, Alrashed, Alghidani) Al-Rass General Hospital, Al-Rass; from the Neurosurgery Department (H. Alfaifi), Abha Maternity and Child Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah M AlghidaniFrom the Physiotherapy Department (R. Alfaifi, Juraybi, Alrashed, Alghidani) Al-Rass General Hospital, Al-Rass; from the Neurosurgery Department (H. Alfaifi), Abha Maternity and Child Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Hana M AlfaifiFrom the Physiotherapy Department (R. Alfaifi, Juraybi, Alrashed, Alghidani) Al-Rass General Hospital, Al-Rass; from the Neurosurgery Department (H. Alfaifi), Abha Maternity and Child Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo investigate the long-term effects of Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and ultrasound (US) in treating the trigger finger. Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a common type of tenosynovitis affecting the flexor sheath of any finger. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy and therapeutic US are conservative treatments that use waves of varied frequency to target damaged regions and improve function.

methodsThis cohort study was carried out in Saudi Arabia, using samples obtain from the files of patients with trigger fingers who visited the orthopedic department at Al-Rass General Hospital between May and June 2023. Of the 38 people with trigger fingers who were initially included, 24 satisfied the requirements for inclusion (11 underwent US, and 13 received ESWT). Assessments were conducted in September 2023, two months later. A goniometer was used to measure the range of motion (ROM), an electrical dynamometer was used to test grip strength, a numerical pain rating scale was used to quantify discomfort, and QuickDASH was used to measure general functional capacity.

resultsExtracorporeal shockwave therapy and US significantly affected all outcomes, including pain severity, ROM, hand strength, and general functional capability (

conclusionThis study provides preliminary evidence that ESWT and US have similar effects in treating trigger fingers.

Indexed as

Extracorporeal Shockwave TherapyTrigger Finger DisorderUltrasonic TherapyAdultAgedCohort StudiesFemaleHand StrengthHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesRange of Motion, ArticularTreatment OutcomeESWTextracorporeal shockwaveshockwavetherapeutictrigger fingerUS

Identifiers

PMID39779364
PMCPMC11717109

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.