Beyond short-term relief, local corticosteroid injection provides the best long-term improvement for which condition?

Beyond short-term relief, local corticosteroid injection provides the best long-term improvement for which condition?

• A. Carpal tunnel syndrome
• B. Trigger finger
• C. De Quervain's tenosynovitis
• D. Ganglion cyst

Answer: (B)

Corticosteroid injections in the hand work by reducing inflammation and swelling in tendon sheaths, improving glide of the tendons. Among common conditions, trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis) shows the most durable, long-term improvement after a single local injection. The anti-inflammatory effect decreases pulley swelling at the A1 pulley, reduces catching or locking during finger flexion, and often provides sustained relief for many months to years, sometimes avoiding surgery. In contrast, injections for carpal tunnel syndrome tend to offer only temporary relief with less durable long-term benefit; for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, relief is good initially but recurrences are common; and ganglion cysts respond poorly to steroids and tend to recur. Hence, for lasting improvement beyond the initial relief, the best outcome is seen with trigger finger.

Corticosteroid injections in the hand work by reducing inflammation and swelling in tendon sheaths, improving glide of the tendons. Among common conditions, trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis) shows the most durable, long-term improvement after a single local injection. The anti-inflammatory effect decreases pulley swelling at the A1 pulley, reduces catching or locking during finger flexion, and often provides sustained relief for many months to years, sometimes avoiding surgery. In contrast, injections for carpal tunnel syndrome tend to offer only temporary relief with less durable long-term benefit; for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, relief is good initially but recurrences are common; and ganglion cysts respond poorly to steroids and tend to recur. Hence, for lasting improvement beyond the initial relief, the best outcome is seen with trigger finger.