Clinical significance of proximal interphalangeal joint pain in patients with trigger fingers

Abstract

We investigated incidence, clinical features and surgical outcomes of trigger finger accompanied by proximal interphalangeal joint pain. One-hundred and seventy-nine consecutive patients with trigger finger who had A1 pulley release were recruited. Forty-two patients (24%) complained of proximal interphalangeal joint pain at the time of surgery. Symptom duration was investigated, and tenderness at the proximal interphalangeal joint was palpated. Range of motion and pain score of the affected finger were measured pre- and post-operatively. Bone scan was performed to identify joint lesions. A comparison of the results between the proximal interphalangeal joint pain group and the non-proximal interphalangeal joint pain group shows that the proximal interphalangeal joint pain seemed to result from long symptom duration and consequent joint pathology. The proximal interphalangeal joint pain was incompletely resolved after A1 pulley release. Thus, the surgical outcomes might be worse than expected in spite of resolution of painful clicking, especially when there was additional joint tenderness on palpation.