Comparison of Pain Scores between a Home-made Nylon/Polyester and Stainless-Steel Finger Traps

Abstract

Background. A “finger trap” is a device commonly used in recreational activities and for the closed reduction of forearm and hand fractures. This study compares the comfort levels of two types of finger traps: a homemade nylon/polyester finger trap and a stainless-steel finger trap. Objective. To determine which finger trap, nylon/polyester or stainless-steel, provides more comfort for volunteers, as measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores. Methodology. This prospective study included 67 volunteers, comprising 35 males (52.24%) and 32 females (47.76%), with a mean age of 33.49 years and a mean body mass index of 25.50 kg/m². Volunteers were assigned to either the nylon/polyester finger trap group or the stainless steel finger trap group. VAS pain scores were recorded for each group over a 15-minute period. The unpaired t-test was used as the statistical method for data analysis. Result. The nylon/polyester finger trap group showed consistently lower VAS pain scores than the stainless-steel group during the first 10 minutes, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.021). The overall mean VAS score was 4.38 for the nylon group and 4.73 for the stainless-steel group. This 0.35-point difference, although statistically significant, approached but did not exceed the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) threshold of 1.3. However, individual time points from 2 to 10 minutes showed significant differences favoring the nylon group. No significant differences were observed beyond 15 minutes, suggesting the comfort advantage was most evident during early traction. Conclusion. Nylon/polyester finger traps are more comfortable and cost-effective compared to stainless-steel finger traps. They can be considered a viable alternative due to their comparable VAS pain scores and lower material cost.