The results of Surgical Treatment of Congenital Trigger Thumb in Children

Flexor tendon entrapment of the digits is a disorder characterized by snapping or locking of the thumb or finger (with or without pain) and called trigger finger. In children, the thumb is involved more frequent than other digits. Flexor pollicis longus tendon involvement in this group is characterized by interphalangeal fixed flexion deformity. Surgery should be considered as the first choice of treatment if the disease is not resolved by the 12 months of age. This study tried to determine the results of surgical treatment of congenital trigger thumb. In this descriptive-analytic in Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, 33 children who had surgical treatment of congenital trigger thumb, had inclusion criteria of the study. Data was collected by special questionnaire and clinical examination and analyzed by SPSS software using chi-square and Student-t test. The mean age of diagnosis in this study was 3 years and the mean age of surgery was 3.5 year. 31 patients had complete cure after surgery but 2 patients had some degrees of limitation in extension of the thumb. The statistical analysis in this study revealed a correlation between the age of diagnosis and surgery and the final result of the surgery. Reccurence of disease was seen only in one child, 6 months after surgery. Other complications of the surgery such as infection, digital nerve damage, and bowstringing of the tendon were not seen in this study. Age of diagnosis and surgery are the most important factors effect on complete cure of the disease. In this study, there was a statistical correlation between the age of diagnosis and surgery and the result of surgery.