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Updated: Aug 11, 2025
Author Spotlight: Ultrasound-Guided Needle Release Combined with Corticosteroid Injection for the Treatment of Supinator Syndrome
Published on: May 26, 2023
National Benchmarks for the Efficacy of Trigger Finger and the Risk Factors Associated With Failure
Jennifer Lewis1, Henry Seidel, Lewis Shi
1From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL (Ms. Lewis); Pritzker School of Medicine at The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL (Mr. Seidel); and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL (Dr. Shi, Dr. Wolf, and Dr. Strelzow).
Corticosteroid injections offer significant relief for trigger finger, with repeat treatments improving efficacy. Obesity and carpal tunnel syndrome are linked to injection failure, guiding future treatment decisions.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Hand Surgery
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
Background:
- Trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis) is a common condition causing pain and limited motion.
- Corticosteroid injections are a primary non-surgical treatment option.
- Understanding the efficacy of single versus multiple injections is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of single and multiple corticosteroid injections for symptomatic trigger finger.
- To determine the rates of subsequent injections and tendon sheath release.
- To identify risk factors associated with treatment failure.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of a national healthcare database.
- Inclusion criteria: diagnosis of trigger finger/thumb with same-day or within 6-week injection.
- Patient cohorts stratified by treatment success and need for further intervention (additional injections or surgery).
Main Results:
- Efficacy of initial, second, and third corticosteroid injections: 66.3%, 79.4%, and 79.6%, respectively.
- Surgical intervention rates after failed injections: 9.4% (primary), 23.1% (second), 30.4% (third).
- Obesity (OR 1.2) and carpal tunnel syndrome (OR 1.4) were significant risk factors for injection failure.
Conclusions:
- Corticosteroid injections are effective in over 65% of trigger finger cases.
- Repeat injections demonstrate continued benefit after initial treatment failure.
- Identifying risk factors like obesity and carpal tunnel syndrome can inform clinical practice.
