[Injection therapy of trigger finger].

BACKGROUND

Since 1996 we have treated patients with trigger finger with corticosteroid injection as an alternative to surgery, on the basis of good results from this treatment reported in the literature. We wished to evaluate the results.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

27 patients with 32 trigger fingers were treated with corticosteroid injection. Two injections had been used in 17 fingers. The patients were contacted by mail or telephone median 4 years and 2 months (range 29-56 months) later, and patients with persistent pain were examined clinically.

RESULTS

12 fingers had been operated by the time of the follow-up. 14 fingers were reported to be quite normal, one gave slight discomfort, four were still painful, but less so than before injection, and one was still as bad as before injection. Two of these patients had painful carpometacarpal arthrosis.

INTERPRETATION: We suggest that corticosteroid injection should be tried in patients with trigger finger.