Trigger finger is a common disorder of the hand, effecting the general public and especially those with diabetes. Treatment can include changing activities, using a splint, physical therapy or pain relieving drugs, but the most common treatment is a corticosteroid injection.
Steroid injections have been shown to consistently provide short term relief in many studies up to three years, however there is little proof of long term success from these injections. The reason for this study is to provide information about the long term success rate of a first-time steroid injection for trigger finger.
This is a study of 366 patients who had first-time corticosteroid shot for trigger finger. Sixty six percent were female, forty four percent had multiple trigger fingers, and twenty four percent had diabetes. The researchers looked at medical records for the seven years following injection and if there was no evidence of recurrent or persistent symptoms or need for any further treatment for trigger finger they were then called for an interview. This interview included questioning about recurrence of their symptoms in order to prevent any bias toward patients who did not have follow up with the physician in the form of an appointment.
The results show that for forty five percent of patients there was long term success of the single injection. For female patients the success rate was nearly fifty percent and for males it was thirty eight percent. If there was going to be treatment failure (defined as the need for further injections, surgery or lack of relief) this usually occurred, at eighty two percent, within the first two years. Also having more than one finger with symptoms decreased the chance of success.
Thus females with only one trigger finger are most likely to have success with a single steroid injection, and if there is symptom relief past two years they are likely to continue to experience long term relief.