Comparison of 1-Year Outcome Among Different Low Dosage Triamcinolone Acetonide Injections for Trigger Finger

Background: This study was designed to compare the 1-year outcome among the groups with different low-dosage triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injections for trigger finger.

Methods: In the study period, trigger digits were initially injected with 2, 4, or 8 mg TA. We checked whether they had a second injection or surgery during the following year by either patients' revisit or telephone interview. The groups with different injections were compared according to recurrence and symptom relief period. We also assessed the 6-week outcome to confirm the short-term improvement.

Results: One-hundred ninety-eight digits were enrolled. About 60% of the injected fingers required additional treatment in each group without significant difference. The interval between the initial injection and additional treatment in the recurrent cases averaged 5 months in the 2 and 4 mg TA groups, being significantly extended for a short term of 1.5 months in the 8 mg TA group. All the groups showed a significant improvement of the patients' clinical severity at 6 weeks after injection without any difference among the groups. There was no adverse event.

Conclusions: Low-dosage TA injection for trigger finger within 8 mg yielded satisfactory results, not being inferior to those with higher dosage up to 40 mg in comparison with previous reports. Our findings implied that increasing TA dosage might bring short-extended symptom relief, however, not reduce the recurrence. While not offering great benefit, lower dosage TA injection for trigger finger can be chosen, aiming for cost-effectiveness, safety, and small injection site pain.