Pattern of Trigger Finger among Patients Attending a Musculo-Skeletal Clinic

Abstract

Background: Trigger finger is a common finger problem thought to be due to thickening of tendon sheath with or without localized tendon thickening, resulting in a narrowed tunnel for tendon excursion with ultimate restriction of tendon movement. It can be seen in anyone, it is however seen frequently in diabetic patients and in women, typically in the fifth or sixth decade of life.

Objective: To determine the pattern of trigger finger among patients attending a musculo-skeletal clinic.

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: The study was conducted at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, a tertiary hospital located in the South west, Nigeria. The study was conducted over four years between July 2009 and June 2013.

Patients and Methods: All the patients that presented with trigger finger at the outpatient clinic were enlisted for the study. Demographic and clinical information was obtained by direct interview of patients.

Results: Thirty four cases of trigger finger were seen. There were 22(64.7%) females and 12(35.3%) males with a female to male ratio of 1.8:1. The age range of patients was 32 to 65 years. The mean duration of symptom was 1 year and 3 months. The ring finger (61.8%) was the commonest finger affected, and the left ring finger was predominantly affected (66.7%). The left hand (76.5%) was commonly affected. There were no cases of multiple finger involvement.

Conclusion: Response to intra-lesional steroid injection was uniformly effective, surgical intervention may be un-necessary in many cases of trigger finger.

Keywords: Trigger Finger, Pattern, Musculo-skeletal Clinic, Nigeria