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Updated: May 16, 2025
Author Spotlight: Ultrasound-Guided Needle Release Combined with Corticosteroid Injection for the Treatment of Supinator Syndrome
Published on: May 26, 2023
Choice of Corticosteroid Is Associated With the Possibility of Subsequent Surgery for Trigger Finger: A Retrospective
Todd A Theman1, Bradley Frueh2, Brandon Horton2
1Kaiser Permanente, Santa Clara Medical Center, Santa Clara, CA, USA.
Introduction:
Trigger finger is one of the most common conditions treated by hand surgeons. Although corticosteroid injection is a common first-line treatment, there is no consensus regarding the most effective type of steroid.
Methods:
The authors performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with a diagnosis of trigger finger within Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a large, community-based, integrated health system with a comprehensive electronic medical record. Patients were potentially exposed to 4 different steroid regimens: betamethasone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, and triamcinolone. The primary outcome was the possibility of subsequent trigger finger surgery following initial corticosteroid treatment.
Results:
Among 20,141 patients with an injection for trigger finger diagnosis, 1668 (8.3%) had a trigger finger release procedure following injection. Compared with patients injected with triamcinolone, dexamethasone patients had a hazard ratio of 4.12 for surgery (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.06-5.54), betamethasone patients had a hazard ratio of 2.40 (95% CI, 1.86-3.10), and methylprednisolone had a hazard ratio of 1.77 (95% CI, 1.32-2.37).
Discussion:
This large, retrospective observational study suggests that the type of corticosteroid used for trigger finger may influence the possibility of subsequent surgery.
Conclusions:
This information may inform corticosteroid choice for treating trigger finger, but findings should be confirmed in a prospective study.
