Comparison of the Short-Term Treatment Outcome among Watchful Waiting, and Soluble and Insoluble Corticosteroid Injections in Idiopathic Trigger Finger
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the short-term result of local corticosteroid injections in the treatment of idiopathic trigger finger between previously reported proper amount of soluble and insoluble steroids; dexamethasone sodium phosphate and triamcinolone acetonide, and also aimed to compare these results with that of the patients who did not undergo the corticosteroid injection as control group. Methods: Fifty-six patients (16 men and 40 women; age, 38–79 years; mean age, 60.0 ± 8.8 years) who initially diagnosed with idiopathic trigger finger in our clinic were assigned to watchful waiting, local injection of triamcinolone acetonide (insoluble preparation), or that of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (soluble preparation). The examined digits included 30 thumbs and 1 index, 17 middle, and 8 ring fingers. All patients scored the visual analogue scale (VAS), and were graded according to clinical findings at the timing of initial diagnosis and four weeks following the diagnosis. Statistical analyses focused on the difference of the VAS score and clinical grades between initial and the 4-week evaluation in each treatment group, and also on the comparison of these difference among treatment groups. Results: Whereas the VAS score significantly improved in two injection groups, a significant difference in the improvement of the VAS score and clinical grade was revealed between the group of triamcinolone acetonide and other two groups. We could not find any advantages in the injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate comparing with watchful waiting. Conclusions: The injection of triamcinolone acetonide in idiopathic trigger finger had better short-term outcome when comparing with the injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate and watchful waiting.
