The purpose of this study is to evaluate the best distraction mechanism during trigger finger injection in the outpatient setting. Temporary discomfort from the needle prick is highly feared by patients and is often accompanied by significant acute pain and distress during routine corticosteroid injection in the orthopedic outpatient setting. This study aims to examine 4 different distraction methods and their efficacy in reducing perceived pain, which will be evaluate using the VAS (visual analog pain score.) The three distraction methods will be ethyl chloride spray, adjacent pinch, ethyl chloride spray and pinch, and "screen" or looking away method.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Skin cooling with ethyl chloride spray 5 seconds prior to injection
Skin between the distal palmar crease and the palmo digital crease will be pinched for 5 seconds prior to injection
Subjects will sit behind a screen with a small opening large enough to introduce the injected hand. They will not see any of the procedure
New York University School of Medicine
New York, New York, United States
Change in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Score
A 10-cm scale will be shown to the patients, and they will be asked to choose the proper number, with 1 representing no pain and 10 symbolizing the most pain imaginable
Time frame: 1 Minute, 24 Hours
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