Efficacy of a new treatment algorithm for capsulitis of the fingers in rock climbers
BackgroundAlthough finger joint capsulitis has been described among the most frequent injuries in climbers, no clinical studies on treatment strategies and outcomes are available.Study designProspective case series study.MethodsBetween 2015 and 2018 we prospectively treated 50 patients (38 male, 12...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1497110/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832593912816992256 |
|---|---|
| author | Volker Rainer Schöffl Volker Rainer Schöffl Volker Rainer Schöffl Volker Rainer Schöffl Volker Rainer Schöffl Christoph Lutter Christoph Lutter Hans-Christoph Lang Mario Perl Othmar Moser Michael Simon |
| author_facet | Volker Rainer Schöffl Volker Rainer Schöffl Volker Rainer Schöffl Volker Rainer Schöffl Volker Rainer Schöffl Christoph Lutter Christoph Lutter Hans-Christoph Lang Mario Perl Othmar Moser Michael Simon |
| author_sort | Volker Rainer Schöffl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundAlthough finger joint capsulitis has been described among the most frequent injuries in climbers, no clinical studies on treatment strategies and outcomes are available.Study designProspective case series study.MethodsBetween 2015 and 2018 we prospectively treated 50 patients (38 male, 12 female) with a total number of 69 independent finger joint capsulitis according to a clinic specific treatment regimen and evaluated the outcome retrospectively. Therapy consisted of either conservative management, steroid injections, radiosynoviorthesis or a combination depending on the treatment regimen, prior therapy and timeline of symptoms. Outcomes were assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS), Buck-Gramcko score and a climbing specific outcome score with secondary patient recall.ResultsThe proximal interphalangeal joint of the middle finger was the most commonly affected joint, and there was no correlation with osteoarthritis. All climbers returned to sport within 12 months. The majority were able to maintain their level of performance after injury and the difference in climbing level before and after injury was not statistically significant (p = 0.22). The total time spent climbing was significantly less after the injury than before the injury (p < 0.001). The Buck-Gramcko score showed excellent results. The overall functional outcome was good to very good with a mean score of 1.6 ± 0.7, as was the climbing specific score of 1.7 ± 0.9. Pain was significantly less after treatment than before (p < 0.001).ConclusionGood to very good functional and sport-specific outcomes were seen with the stage-specific treatment regimen presented, allowing all patients studied to resume climbing. A better understanding of the underlying pathogenesis is essential in order to better assess long-term progress. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-25f92334df1241e8895252db789e5030 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-25f92334df1241e8895252db789e50302025-01-20T07:20:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-01-01710.3389/fspor.2025.14971101497110Efficacy of a new treatment algorithm for capsulitis of the fingers in rock climbersVolker Rainer Schöffl0Volker Rainer Schöffl1Volker Rainer Schöffl2Volker Rainer Schöffl3Volker Rainer Schöffl4Christoph Lutter5Christoph Lutter6Hans-Christoph Lang7Mario Perl8Othmar Moser9Michael Simon10Department of Traumaand Orthopedic Surgery, Klinikum Bamberg, Bamberg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, GermanySection of Wilderness Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Med., Denver, CO, United StatesSchool of Health, Leeds Becket University, Leeds, United KingdomDivision of Exercise Physiology and Metabolism, Department of Sport Science, University of Bayreuth, Bavaria, GermanySchool of Health, Leeds Becket University, Leeds, United KingdomDepartment of Orthopedics, University Medical Center, Rostock, GermanyDepartment of Traumaand Orthopedic Surgery, Klinikum Bamberg, Bamberg, GermanyDepartment of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, GermanyDivision of Exercise Physiology and Metabolism, Department of Sport Science, University of Bayreuth, Bavaria, GermanyDepartment of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, GermanyBackgroundAlthough finger joint capsulitis has been described among the most frequent injuries in climbers, no clinical studies on treatment strategies and outcomes are available.Study designProspective case series study.MethodsBetween 2015 and 2018 we prospectively treated 50 patients (38 male, 12 female) with a total number of 69 independent finger joint capsulitis according to a clinic specific treatment regimen and evaluated the outcome retrospectively. Therapy consisted of either conservative management, steroid injections, radiosynoviorthesis or a combination depending on the treatment regimen, prior therapy and timeline of symptoms. Outcomes were assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS), Buck-Gramcko score and a climbing specific outcome score with secondary patient recall.ResultsThe proximal interphalangeal joint of the middle finger was the most commonly affected joint, and there was no correlation with osteoarthritis. All climbers returned to sport within 12 months. The majority were able to maintain their level of performance after injury and the difference in climbing level before and after injury was not statistically significant (p = 0.22). The total time spent climbing was significantly less after the injury than before the injury (p < 0.001). The Buck-Gramcko score showed excellent results. The overall functional outcome was good to very good with a mean score of 1.6 ± 0.7, as was the climbing specific score of 1.7 ± 0.9. Pain was significantly less after treatment than before (p < 0.001).ConclusionGood to very good functional and sport-specific outcomes were seen with the stage-specific treatment regimen presented, allowing all patients studied to resume climbing. A better understanding of the underlying pathogenesis is essential in order to better assess long-term progress.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1497110/fullcapsulitisfinger joint synovitisrock climbingfinger injuriessport climbing |
| spellingShingle | Volker Rainer Schöffl Volker Rainer Schöffl Volker Rainer Schöffl Volker Rainer Schöffl Volker Rainer Schöffl Christoph Lutter Christoph Lutter Hans-Christoph Lang Mario Perl Othmar Moser Michael Simon Efficacy of a new treatment algorithm for capsulitis of the fingers in rock climbers Frontiers in Sports and Active Living capsulitis finger joint synovitis rock climbing finger injuries sport climbing |
| title | Efficacy of a new treatment algorithm for capsulitis of the fingers in rock climbers |
| title_full | Efficacy of a new treatment algorithm for capsulitis of the fingers in rock climbers |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy of a new treatment algorithm for capsulitis of the fingers in rock climbers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy of a new treatment algorithm for capsulitis of the fingers in rock climbers |
| title_short | Efficacy of a new treatment algorithm for capsulitis of the fingers in rock climbers |
| title_sort | efficacy of a new treatment algorithm for capsulitis of the fingers in rock climbers |
| topic | capsulitis finger joint synovitis rock climbing finger injuries sport climbing |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1497110/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT volkerrainerschoffl efficacyofanewtreatmentalgorithmforcapsulitisofthefingersinrockclimbers AT volkerrainerschoffl efficacyofanewtreatmentalgorithmforcapsulitisofthefingersinrockclimbers AT volkerrainerschoffl efficacyofanewtreatmentalgorithmforcapsulitisofthefingersinrockclimbers AT volkerrainerschoffl efficacyofanewtreatmentalgorithmforcapsulitisofthefingersinrockclimbers AT volkerrainerschoffl efficacyofanewtreatmentalgorithmforcapsulitisofthefingersinrockclimbers AT christophlutter efficacyofanewtreatmentalgorithmforcapsulitisofthefingersinrockclimbers AT christophlutter efficacyofanewtreatmentalgorithmforcapsulitisofthefingersinrockclimbers AT hanschristophlang efficacyofanewtreatmentalgorithmforcapsulitisofthefingersinrockclimbers AT marioperl efficacyofanewtreatmentalgorithmforcapsulitisofthefingersinrockclimbers AT othmarmoser efficacyofanewtreatmentalgorithmforcapsulitisofthefingersinrockclimbers AT michaelsimon efficacyofanewtreatmentalgorithmforcapsulitisofthefingersinrockclimbers |