Steroid injection versus NSAID injection for trigger finger: a comparative study of early outcomes

Shakeel, H and Ahmad, T.S. (2012) Steroid injection versus NSAID injection for trigger finger: a comparative study of early outcomes. The Journal of Hand Surgery, 37 (7). pp. 1319-1323.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhsa.2012.03.040

Abstract

PURPOSE: Stenosing tenosynovitis of the flexor tendon sheath of the digits of the hand results from a discrepancy between the diameter of the flexor tendon and its sheath at the A1 pulley. The treatment options for trigger digits include oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and local NSAID applications, splintage, steroid injection, and percutaneous and open release of the A1 pulley. Injectable NSAID is used intramuscularly and locally in other sites. The hypothesis is that an injectable NSAID is as effective as the traditionally used steroid injection in the treatment of trigger digit, based on Quinnell grading, and that the treatment works as well in patients with diabetes as in those without diabetes. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded controlled study for trigger digits, we injected diclofenac sodium locally in one group (NSAID group) and triamcinolone acetonide in another (corticosteroid group). A total of 100 patients (50 patients in each group) were followed up and assessed 3 weeks and 3 months after the injection. RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up, 35 patients (70%) in the corticosteroid group and 28 patients (53%) in the NSAID group had complete symptomatic resolution. There was no difference between the response of patients with and without diabetes. There was no significant difference found in Quinnell score between treatments at 3 months, although at 3 weeks, the patients who received steroid had significantly better Quinnell scores. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that, although steroids gave quicker relief, NSAID injections are equally effective at 3 months in the treatment of trigger digits. We were unable to detect a statistically significant difference in the response of patients with and without diabetes to either treatment. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic I.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information: Corresponding author: Hussain Shakeel, MBBS, National Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence in Research and Learning (NOCERAL), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Malaya, 30603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Uncontrolled Keywords: Hand Surgery
Subjects: R Medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User: Nor Izzati Ab Razak
Date Deposited: 18 Jul 2012 04:38
Last Modified: 19 Dec 2014 02:45
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/3508

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