Functional outcome of patients with trigger finger treated by local steroid injection vs open release-a prospective comparative study

Background: The aim of the present study is to assess the functional outcome in Trigger finger patients treated by local corticosteroid injection versus open A1 pulley release.

Materials and method: This randomised trial was conducted between May 2019 and August 2019 at a tertiary care centre in Navi-Mumbai on 31 consecutive patients who were divided in two groups as per Quinnell type II-IV. Patients with type I or V involvement, and allergic to local anaesthetic were excluded from the study. Group A were treated with local corticosteroid injection while the patients in group B were treated surgically by open release. The final outcome was calculated using DASH scores.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 53.45 ± 7.21 and 55.72 ± 10.13 in group A and B respectively. The middle finger was most commonly involved accounting for 11 (35.48%) cases. Two (14.2%) cases in group A had decreased range of movements. The patients in group B had better DASH scores at the end of 3 and 6 months respectively which was statistically significant (p=0.0207).

Conclusion: Single dose steroid can be used as first line of management; however, its superiority over open surgical release is not completely justified.