How Many Trigger Fingers Resolve Spontaneously Without Any Treatment?

Abstract

Introduction:

There is very little information in the literature evaluating the natural history of adult trigger fingers and their rate of spontaneous resolution over time.

Methods:

A consecutive case series of patients with trigger finger was generated. For each patient, we recorded whether the patient’s disease resolved from either no treatment versus active treatment options and over what time period.

Results:

Three hundred forty-three patients with trigger finger were included in the study. Fifty-two percent of patients resolved without any treatment whatsoever after waiting a mean (and median) of 8 months from initial consultation. The thumb was the most frequent digit to resolve without treatment (72%).

Conclusions:

We found that just over half of patients with trigger fingers who are referred to our office resolve spontaneously without any intervention.