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

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.