Association between multiple trigger fingers, systemic diseases and carpal tunnel syndrome: A multivariate analysis.

INTRODUCTION

Trigger finger (TF) is a frequent pathology depending on several factors. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between multiple TF and systemic or musculoskeletal disorders in a sample of young patients.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A retrospective study was performed of all patients with TF operated in our hospital between 2011 and 2015. Multiple or single TF diagnosis and pathologies such as diabetes mellitus (DM), thyroid dysfunction, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), epicondylalgia or DeQuervain's disease were collected. Statistical results included a bivariate analysis and a multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

Two hundred and seventy-nine patients with a mean age of 48.45years were included. The dominant hand was affected in 217 cases. There were 59 patients with multiple TF, 21 DM, 55 STC, 16 epicondylalgia and 14 DeQuervains. Prevalence of CTS was 19.7%, significantly higher than the general population (2%-4%). No statistical differences were found in age, sex, hypothyroidism, epicondylalgia or DeQuervain in the multiple TF group. Bivariate analysis detected that DM and CTS patients in the multiple TF group was significantly higher than in the single TF group (P=.007, P<.01). Multiple TF was also more frequent on the dominant side (P<.01). Multivariate logistic regression confirmed these findings, showing a statistically significant association between the multiple TF group and DM (OR: 4.98, P<.01), STC (OR: 2.09, P=.037) and dominant side (OR: 3.76, P=.016).

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes, CTS and dominant side are independently associated with multiple TF in young patients.