Long-Term Effectiveness of Repeat Corticosteroid Injections for Trigger Finger

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Hand Surgery
• Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:

• Trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis) is a common condition causing pain and limited mobility.
• Corticosteroid injections are a primary non-surgical treatment option.
• The long-term efficacy of repeat injections for trigger finger is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term success rates of repeat corticosteroid injections for trigger finger.
• To identify predictors of treatment outcomes in patients receiving multiple injections.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series of 292 repeat corticosteroid injections for trigger finger.
• Analysis of data from January 2010 to January 2013 at a single tertiary center.
• Definition of treatment failure as subsequent injection or surgery; telephone surveys for long-term follow-up.

Main Results:

• Second injections achieved long-term success in 39% of trigger fingers; third injections in 39% as well.
• Median time to treatment failure was 371 days for second injections and 407 days for third injections.
• Advancing patient age and injection for trigger thumb predicted success of second injections.

Conclusions:

• Repeat corticosteroid injections provide long-term relief for a significant portion of trigger finger patients.
• While many patients eventually require surgery, 50% of those receiving repeat injections experience at least one year of relief.
• Repeat injections are a reasonable consideration for patients preferring non-surgical management of trigger finger.