Analysis of the efficacy of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of diabetic trigger finger

Objective: This study evaluates the clinical efficacy of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine compared with open tenosynoviolysis in the treatment of diabetic trigger finger, with attention to pain relief, tendon-sheath function, biomechanical recovery, and future compatibility with wearable electromagnetic sensing of finger motion. Methods: Clinical data were collected from diabetic patients with trigger finger who visited Jinan Central Hospital from 2020 to 2024. Thirty affected fingers treated with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine were included as the observation group, and 30 affected fingers treated with open tenosynoviolysis during the same period and matched by general data were included as the control group. Glycosylated hemoglobin, Visual Analogue Scale score, Quinnell grade, total effective rate, and adverse reactions were compared before and after treatment. Results: After one month, glycosylated hemoglobin in the observation group decreased significantly and was lower than that of the control group. VAS scores decreased in both groups, but the reduction was greater in the observation group. After treatment, 96.7% of affected fingers in the observation group reached Quinnell grade 0 or I, compared with 70% in the control group. The total effective rate was 100% in the observation group and 86.7% in the control group, with no adverse reactions observed during follow-up. Conclusion: Integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine showed superior short-term efficacy for diabetic trigger finger and may support future biomechanical evaluation using wearable electromagnetic or antenna-based motion sensing.