One hundred and sixty patients were enrolled in a prospective randomized controlled trial to assess whether a steroid injection through the dorsal web space was less painful than the palmar midline technique in the treatment of trigger digits and whether they were equally effective. There were 116 women and 44 men with a mean age of 60 years. The mean visual analogue score for pain during the injection was 3.6 in the dorsal web space group and 5.4 in the palmar midline group on a scale of 0-10. The overall success of treatment in the dorsal group was 67%, whereas it was 56% in the palmar group. No complications were noted. We concluded from this study that the dorsal web space technique is less painful and at least as effective as the palmar midline technique.Level of evidence: I.
Keywords: Corticosteroid injection; flexor tendon; pain; trigger finger; trigger thumb; web space.