Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2025
Author Spotlight: Ultrasound-Guided Needle Release Combined with Corticosteroid Injection for the Treatment of Supinator Syndrome
Published on: May 26, 2023
Presentation and Management of the Pediatric Trigger Finger: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study
Lori Jia1, John D King2, Craig Goubeaux3
1Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Insights
Surgical intervention is highly effective for pediatric trigger finger (PTF), achieving a 97.1% resolution rate. Non-surgical treatments show limited success, with only 30% of cases resolving, often within a year.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Hand Surgery
- Musculoskeletal Conditions
Background:
- Pediatric trigger finger (PTF) is an uncommon, complex acquired condition.
- Existing literature consists of small retrospective case series.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the presentation of pediatric trigger finger (PTF).
- Assess management strategies and treatment outcomes in a large, multicenter cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 321 pediatric patients diagnosed with PTF (2009-2020).
- Data abstracted from electronic medical records and confirmed via patient/family telephone contact.
- Analysis included demographics, PTF characteristics, treatments, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Middle finger most commonly affected (34.7%).
- Operative management yielded significantly higher resolution rates (97.1%) vs. non-surgical (30.0%).
- Non-surgical resolution typically occurred within 6-12 months; splinting showed no significant benefit.
Conclusions:
- Non-surgical management of PTF has limited efficacy.
- Surgical intervention is highly effective for restoring digit motion and function.
- Multidigit involvement and higher grade at presentation predict need for surgery.
Purpose:
Pediatric trigger finger (PTF) is an acquired condition that is uncommon and anatomically complex. Currently, the literature is characterized by a small number of retrospective case series with limited sample sizes. This investigation sought to evaluate the presentation, management, and treatment outcomes of PTF in a large, multicenter cohort.
Methods:
A retrospective review of pediatric patients with a diagnosis of PTF between 2009 and 2020 was performed at three tertiary referral hospitals. Patient demographics, PTF characteristics, treatment strategies, and outcomes were abstracted from the electronic medical records. Patients and families also were contacted by telephone to assess the downstream persistence or recurrence of triggering symptoms.
Results:
In total, 321 patients with 449 PTFs were included at a mean follow-up of 3.9 ± 4.0 years. There were approximately equal numbers of boys and girls, and the mean age of symptom onset was 5.4 ± 5.1 years. The middle (34.7%) and index (11.6%) fingers were the most and least commonly affected digits, respectively. Overall, PTFs managed operatively achieved significantly higher rates of complete resolution compared with PTFs managed nonsurgically (97.1% vs 30.0%). Seventy-five percent of PTFs that achieved complete resolution with nonsurgical management did so within 6 months, and approximately 90% did so within 12 months. Patients with multidigit involvement, higher Quinnell grade at presentation, or palpable nodularity were significantly more likely to undergo surgery. There was no significant difference in the rate of complete resolution between splinted versus not splinted PTFs or across operative techniques.
Conclusions:
Only 30% of the PTFs managed nonsurgically achieved complete resolution. Splinting did not improve resolution rates in children treated nonsurgically. In contrast, surgical intervention has a high likelihood of restoring motion and function of the affected digit.
Type Of Study/Level Of Evidence:
Therapeutic IV.
