Comparison of Pain Scores between Bamboo and Stainless Steel Finger Traps: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Objective: The Chinese finger trap is a device used to aid in reduction of fractures, especially in distal end of radius fractures. The stainless steel finger trap is widely used but often causes fingers pain. We adapted a bamboo finger trap to reduce pain and also provide a lower cost alternative.Material and Methods: This was a cross-over study in healthy volunteers comparing bamboo and stainless-steel finger traps. Each participant underwent two tests, one with the stainless steel finger trap and another with the bamboo finger trap. For each trial, the participant lay supine on a bed, and the finger trap was attached to the index and middle fingers of the participant, with the arm suspended by a metal loop at the top of the trap to the elbow level of the patient on the bed. Weights were incrementally added to a weight bag suspended by a strap over the patient’s upper arm at one pound per minute until a maximum weight of 20 lbs. and the participant was asked to rate the degree of discomfort with the increasing weights using a visual analogue score (VAS)Results: Thirty volunteers were tested, all of whom were tested with both the bamboo and stainless steel traction devices. One patient developed a superficial skin injury while the stainless steel device was being applied. Overall, the bamboo finger trap group had lower VAS scores than the stainless steel group in the first fifteen minutes (p-value< 0.001).Conclusion: The bamboo finger trap is an effective alternative to the stainless steel finger trap, causing less pain.