Long Term Effectiveness of Trigger Finger Injections With Triamcinolone vs. Dexamethasone

Summary

Trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis) is a very common condition and in office treatment with corticosteroid injection is widely accepted to be first line treatment. Previous studies have reported resolution of triggering after injection at rates ranging from 50% to 93%. Many factors contribute to this variability, including duration of symptoms, presence of diabetes, etc. This study will be a single center, prospective, randomized control trial. Patients will be collected into two different cohorts. The main cohort will be of patients with primary, idiopathic trigger finger. A second cohort of patients with diabetes will also be collected for secondary study questions. Study procedures will include clinical examination of the patient, injection of trigger fingers with mix of local anesthetic and one of two steroids, possible repeat trigger finger injections, and if patients are so indicated, surgical treatment of the trigger finger. Surgical treatment is considered clinical care of these patients who have continued or recurrent symptoms and the surgical treatment would not be considered part of this study. During the study, patients will also fill out surveys about their symptoms. The study drugs used will be 1% lidocaine without epinephrine mixed with either triamcinolone or dexamethasone. These medications are FDA approved for injection treatment of "acute non-specific tenosynovitis." This indication includes trigger finger which is also known as acute stenosing tenosynovitis. The package inserts listing the indications for use of these medications are included in the attachments portion of the IRB application.

Timeline

Start

2014-01

Primary completion

2016-10

Completion

2016-10

Publications

• Background Freiberg A, Mulholland RS, Levine R. Nonoperative treatment of trigger fingers and thumbs. J Hand Surg Am. 1989 May;14(3):553-8. doi: 10.1016/s0363-5023(89)80024-3.
• Background Griggs SM, Weiss AP, Lane LB, Schwenker C, Akelman E, Sachar K. Treatment of trigger finger in patients with diabetes mellitus. J Hand Surg Am. 1995 Sep;20(5):787-9. doi: 10.1016/S0363-5023(05)80432-0.
• Background Lapidus PW, Guidotti FP. Stenosing tenovaginitis of the wrist and fingers. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1972 Mar-Apr;83:87-90. doi: 10.1097/00003086-197203000-00015. No abstract available.
• Background Marks MR, Gunther SF. Efficacy of cortisone injection in treatment of trigger fingers and thumbs. J Hand Surg Am. 1989 Jul;14(4):722-7. doi: 10.1016/0363-5023(89)90199-8.
• Background Murphy D, Failla JM, Koniuch MP. Steroid versus placebo injection for trigger finger. J Hand Surg Am. 1995 Jul;20(4):628-31. doi: 10.1016/S0363-5023(05)80280-1.
• Background Newport ML, Lane LB, Stuchin SA. Treatment of trigger finger by steroid injection. J Hand Surg Am. 1990 Sep;15(5):748-50. doi: 10.1016/0363-5023(90)90149-l.
• Background Rhoades CE, Gelberman RH, Manjarris JF. Stenosing tenosynovitis of the fingers and thumb. Results of a prospective trial of steroid injection and splinting. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1984 Nov;(190):236-8.
• Background Ring D, Lozano-Calderon S, Shin R, Bastian P, Mudgal C, Jupiter J. A prospective randomized controlled trial of injection of dexamethasone versus triamcinolone for idiopathic trigger finger. J Hand Surg Am. 2008 Apr;33(4):516-22; discussion 523-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2008.01.001.
• Background Stahl S, Kanter Y, Karnielli E. Outcome of trigger finger treatment in diabetes. J Diabetes Complications. 1997 Sep-Oct;11(5):287-90. doi: 10.1016/s1056-8727(96)00076-1.
• Background Wolfe, Scott W. "Chapter 62-Tendinopathy." Green's Operative Hand Surgery, 6th Ed. Elsevier, Philadelphia. 2011.

Drugs

Indications