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The outcome of treatment of trigger thumb in children
1Department of Orthopaedics, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Insights
Trigger thumb in children often resolves spontaneously, particularly in those over 12 months old. Surgical intervention yields satisfactory results with low recurrence, suggesting a conservative approach may be beneficial.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Hand Surgery
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Trigger thumb (stenosing tenosynovitis) is a common condition in children.
- It presents as a flexion contracture of the thumb with a palpable nodule.
- Management strategies range from observation to surgical release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the treatment outcomes for pediatric trigger thumb.
- To compare spontaneous recovery rates with surgical outcomes.
- To identify factors influencing recurrence.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients diagnosed with trigger thumb.
- Data collection on observation periods, surgical interventions, and outcomes.
- Assessment of spontaneous resolution and post-operative complications.
Main Results:
- A 49% rate of spontaneous recovery was observed in children managed non-operatively.
- Spontaneous resolution was more frequent in children older than 12 months.
- Surgical treatment resulted in satisfactory outcomes with a 4.0% overall recurrence rate, which was higher in younger children.
Conclusions:
- A conservative, observational approach may be suitable for pediatric trigger thumb, especially in older children.
- Surgery is effective with low complication rates but recurrence is more likely in younger patients.
- Individualized treatment decisions considering age and presentation are recommended.
Abstract:
Our aim was to determine the outcome of the treatment of trigger thumb in children. There was a rate of spontaneous recovery of 49% in those children whose thumbs were observed before a final decision to operate was made. Spontaneous recovery occurred more commonly in children over 12 months old. All patients treated by operation had a satisfactory outcome with few complications. The overall rate of recurrence was 4.0% and it was more common in younger children. Our results suggest that a conservative approach to surgery for this condition could be adopted.
