Clinical Review of Trigger Finger in Pediatric and Adult Patients: Evaluation and Management Strategies

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Hand Surgery
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis) involves flexor tendon sheath inflammation, causing digit pain and locking.
• Adult trigger finger is linked to repetitive use, diabetes, and inflammatory conditions.
• Pediatric trigger finger is rare and often associated with systemic or syndromic issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review pathophysiology, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatments for adult and pediatric trigger finger.
• To highlight novel treatment algorithms and patient-specific management strategies.
• To emphasize distinctions between adult and pediatric trigger finger for optimal outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of adult and pediatric trigger finger.
• Analysis of conservative and surgical treatment efficacy and success rates.
• Examination of risk factors, comorbidities, and management approaches.

Main Results:

• Conservative treatments (NSAIDs, injections, splinting) show variable effectiveness in adults.
• Corticosteroid injections resolve symptoms in 70-90% of non-diabetics, with higher recurrence with repeated use.
• Surgical A1 pulley release achieves >90% success in adults and 80-90% in pediatric cases.
• Observation/splinting effective in 30-60% of pediatric cases.

Conclusions:

• Patient-specific management is crucial for optimizing trigger finger treatment outcomes.
• Surgical A1 pulley release is highly effective for both adult and pediatric trigger finger.
• Understanding the differences between adult and pediatric trigger finger is key for successful treatment.