Trigger Finger

Local steroid injections have a success rate of approximately 60–70% per session, but in the event of recurrence, side effects such as tendon weakening, skin atrophy, and elevated blood sugar accumulate as the number of repeated injections increases. Acupuncture treatment stimulates acupoints around the A1 pulley and the hand and wrist to induce local blood flow and anti-inflammatory responses, while moxibustion reduces restenosis by directly dissecting the thickened tendon sheath. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that acupuncture treatment leads to significant improvements in VAS pain scores and the recovery of finger function. From the perspective of a Korean medicine clinic, resolving the stagnation of Qi and blood in the hand and arm meridians involved in finger flexion mechanisms restores microcirculation around the tendon sheath. Dochim (straight needle) immediately improves tendon gliding by dissecting adhered A1 pulleys, while Hwachim (fire needle) and Meseon (thread thread) stimulate collagen synthesis to restore the elasticity of the tendon itself. At Dongjedang, we design a treatment plan that proceeds stepwise from acute inflammation resolution → adhesion dissection → tissue strengthening, aiming to reduce recurrence without steroid dependence.