I think I would start by broadening the LIKE match...

$select_TransactionCode_handle->execute( '%' . $transactionCodeQuery .
+ '% );
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I would also check exactly what $transactionCodeQuery contains.

print "->$transactionCodeQuery<-";
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Then try the query manually at the database to ensure it is not something bizarre in the data that is giving spurious results.

I don't use SQL Server, but for MySQL and MariaDB the syntax you are using is correct.