Extracorporeal shock wave therapy after flexor tendon repair in the hand
The Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Range of Motion, Pain, Dexterity, and Function After Hand Flexor Tendon Injury.
This will test whether adding extracorporeal shock wave therapy to standard rehabilitation helps people 8–12 weeks after flexor tendon repair in the hand regain motion, reduce pain, and improve grip and dexterity.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 56 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 50 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ankara) |
| Trial ID | NCT07320807 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This interventional protocol adds extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to a standard rehabilitation program and compares outcomes with rehabilitation alone in patients 8–12 weeks after surgical repair of flexor tendons in zones II–IV. The intervention group receives ESWT sessions in addition to the same rehabilitation program given to the control group, and outcomes measured include range of motion, pain, grip strength, and hand dexterity. Common exclusion criteria include active infection, open wounds, pregnancy, recent finger or wrist fractures, inflammatory rheumatic disease, and malignancy. Treatments and follow-up visits are conducted at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people 8–12 weeks after surgical repair of hand flexor tendons (zones II–IV) who can attend clinic visits and have no exclusion conditions.
Not a fit: Patients with active infection or open wounds, pregnant individuals, those with recent finger or wrist fractures, inflammatory rheumatic disease, or cancer, or those outside the 8–12 week post‑operative window are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, adding ESWT could speed functional recovery, reduce pain, and lower adhesion-related stiffness after flexor tendon repair.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and small human reports, including positive findings in Dupuytren’s disease and some tendon cases, have suggested benefits of ESWT, but high‑quality randomized evidence specifically after flexor tendon repair is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* • . Volunteering
* . Being 8-12 weeks post-operatively after flexor tendon repair
* . Having undergone flexor tendon zone II-IV surgical repair
Exclusion Criteria:
* . Infection
* • . Open wound
* . Pregnancy
* . History of finger or wrist fracture
* . Inflammatory rheumatic disease
* . Malignant tumor mass
Where this trial is running
Ankara
- Ankara Bilkent City Hospital — Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Merve KAPAN, PhD
- Email: fzt.kapan@gmail.com
- Phone: +905057603658
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.