OBJECTIVE: To determine the short and long term results of trigger fingers treated with a local injection of corticosteroid. DESIGN: Prospective analysis. SETTING: 'Zuiderziekenhuis', Department of General Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. METHOD: In 55 patients with 62 trigger fingers the affected flexor sheath was injected with a long-acting corticosteroid. All patients were followed up for at least one year. RESULTS: With one or two steroid injections 60 of the 62 trigger fingers were treated successfully. During the follow-up period the cumulative recurrence rate was 33% after one year. CONCLUSION: The treatment of trigger fingers with a local injection of steroids is a simple and safe procedure but the risk of recurrence in the first year is considerable.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the short and long term results of trigger fingers treated with a local injection of corticosteroid. DESIGN: Prospective analysis. SETTING: 'Zuiderziekenhuis', Department of General Surgery, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. METHOD: In 55 patients with 62 trigger fingers the affected flexor sheath was injected with a long-acting corticosteroid. All patients were followed up for at least one year. RESULTS: With one or two steroid injections 60 of the 62 trigger fingers were treated successfully. During the follow-up period the cumulative recurrence rate was 33% after one year. CONCLUSION: The treatment of trigger fingers with a local injection of steroids is a simple and safe procedure but the risk of recurrence in the first year is considerable.