Hyaluronic Acid Filler for Dorsal Finger Volume Loss

Overview

Fingers are a part of the body that are often subject to increased signs of aging due to physical use, trauma and exposure to the environment. The FDA's recent approval of a dermal filler, calcium hydroxylapatite, in hands has led to increased patient demand for hand fillers which, in turn, has led to the question of rejuvenation of the dorsal fingers. Due to the different anatomy of the fingers than the dorsal hand plus the new demand to improve the entire hand plus the finger area, we aim to characterize the best approach. Youthful fingers are devoid of wrinkles and often have fuller contours thus hiding the "knuckles" (proximal and distal interphalangeal joints). With aging and loss of subcutaneous tissue volume, fingers become wrinkled, look more skeletal, almost emaciated, and joints become much more prominent, all aesthetic features often disliked by patients. By augmenting the volume in the dorsal fingers, it is possible that the visibility of such bony structures will be decreased, wrinkles will become smoother, and a more youthful appearance of the fingers will be restored. There have been no published reports, to these investigators' knowledge, of the use of injectable filler into the dorsal fingers for three-dimensional volume correction. The use of exogenous hyaluronic acid (HA) filler in the fingers would be off-label. Given that HA filler has been used safely and effectively in many areas of three-dimensional volume restoration throughout the body, the investigators believe the HA filler may be used to effectively and safely correct volume loss in the fingers. The investigators hope that this study will present current, state of the art, never before reported technique, safety, efficacy and patient satisfaction of HA filler in this region.

At Marmur Medical, subjects will be recruited and consented prior to any study evaluations or procedures; if subjects meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria, participants will be enrolled into this study. Informed consent will clearly say the use of hyaluronic acid filler for the treatment of dorsal finger volume loss is investigational. Subjects will also be compensated for their visits (initial and six follow-ups totalling seven visits). Pre and post treatment photographs will be taken. Subjects will be given lidocaine cream to apply to the area of injection for temporary numbing effect prior to injection (10-15 minutes). Ice packs will also be applied to the area temporarily for numbing effect just prior to injection. The patient's fingers will be injected with 0.5-2.0 mL of hyaluronic acid total at the level of the sub-dermal plane. The injected filler will be molded as needed to optimize the correction of the fingers. Syringes used and amount injected into each finger, as well as the total per hand, will be documented to the 0.1 mL increment (e.g. 3.4 mL). The expected volume needed is 1-2 syringes per subject initially. On Day 14, subjects will return for evaluation and possible touch-up of injectable hyaluronic acid filler if needed (at the injector's discretion). The expected volume needed may be 1-2 syringes per subject for touch-up. The subjects will return for follow-up at all time-points as follows: day 14 (+/- touch-up hyaluronic acid injection if necessary), 6 weeks, 3/6/9/12 months. The patient and investigator(s) will assess the volume enhancement in the fingers. Subjects will be asked to rate their level of satisfaction with the treatment at follow-up visits (Global Satisfaction Assessment, Natural Look/Feel Scale). In addition, at the initial visit, subjects will be given a 30 day diary to fill out that will evaluate for symptomology after injection (pain, bruising, swelling, redness, sensitivity/tenderness, itching, lumps/bump development, temporary numbness, signs of vascular compromise or other/open comment box). The subject diary will be collected at the 3 month follow-up visit. Statistical analysis of the data gathered will be performed by an outside statistician using tests such as Wilcoxian signed-rank test (for two observations) or Friedman's test (for more than 2 observations) using STAT, version 13. All adverse events will be recorded at every follow-up visit. These events include: redness, swelling, tenderness, nodule development under the skin and restricted range of motion. More serious adverse events include: compartment syndrome, infection at injection site, Tyndall effect, persistent granulomatous change, injection necrosis, persistent erythema with edema, and vascular occlusion causing symptoms such as pain, numbness and necrosis.