Efficacy of Local Corticosteroid Therapy in Adult Trigger Finger Deformity at a Tertiary Care Hospital Setting

Abstract

Objective: Trigger Finger also called Stenosing Flexor Tenosynovitis is common hand
pathology in adulthood. Efficacy of local corticosteroid injection was investigated in adult trigger
finger deformity
Methods: Seventy females and 40 males injected with 1cc local corticosteroid at the level of A1
pulley were followed for a period of 6 months and consequent symptomatic relief was classified as
good, moderate and bad.
Results: Out of a total of 110 patients, 70 females and 40 males, 40 patients had triggering in
thumb, 26 patients in index finger, 22 patients in middle finger, 13 patients in ring and 9 patients
had triggering deformity in little finger. All had pain and triggering in the involved digit proximal to
metacarpophalangeal joint. 81 patients were observed to have no more triggering and pain while
15 patients had pain without triggering and 14 patients had both triggering and pain at the end of
1st month. At 3 months the number of patients who had no pain and no triggering remained the
same whereas 3 patients had additional symptoms of triggering apart from pain thus increasing
the number to 17. At the end of 6 months duration 11 patients demonstrated no response to
treatment and were advised surgical intervention for definite cure.
Conclusions: Injection of local corticosteroid drug mixture in treatment of trigger finger
deformity is an easy, cheap and effective method and trial should be given once before definitive
treatment that is surgery