Treatment of trigger finger by steroid injection.

A retrospective study of 235 patients with 338 primary trigger fingers determined the efficacy and safety of steroid injection. Initial treatment consisted of one to three injections of corticosteroid mixed with local anesthetic. Those fingers that failed injection therapy had conventional release of the first annular pulley. Seventy-seven percent of all fingers showed resolution or improvement; 49% after a single injection, 23% after two injections, and 5% after three injections.