ISSH Clinical Practice Guidelines

Clinical Practice Guidelines [CPGs] are statements that include recommendations intended to optimise patient care. They are based on a review of the best available evidence, along with an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options. For CPGs to be trustworthy, they should be based on a transparent process which minimises conflicts of interest and risk of bias. To this end, CPGs are recommended to be developed by Guideline Development Groups [GDGs] that are multi-disciplinary, diverse and include representatives of stakeholder groups like consumer organisations, patient advocacy groups or even patients themselves. The ISSH Research wing and its members have taken responsibility for formulating guidelines for a few standard hand surgery conditions in the most scientific way. It was decided to tackle a common condition, Trigger Finger, in the first such CPG.

Current Status

A trigger finger GDG has been formed and has taken up this challenge for the ISSH Research Wing. This group has finalised the key questions that require guidelines in the diagnosis and management of trigger finger. A literature review has also been completed to identify the available evidence on these key questions. The Trigger Finger CPG is currently at the evidence review stage. Once the review is complete, the best available evidence will be synthesised, and members of the GDG will discuss guidelines to develop a consensus opinion on critical clinical aspects of managing trigger finger.