[STENOSING FLEXOR TENOSYNOVITIS - COMMON PRACTICE OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS, ORTHOPEDIC AND HAND SURGEONS].
BACKGROUND
The trigger finger is a common condition of the hand that is treated by family physicians, orthopedic and hand surgeons. The patients suffer from pain, triggering of the finger and may develop a flexion contracture of the finger, causing significant functional limitations.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to evaluate factors involved in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition, as well as the differences in treatment between specialists.


METHODS
The different specialists were asked to rate the importance of symptoms, examination and imaging studies regarding the decision to refer a patient for surgery as well as suggest the treatment of a hypothetical patient complaining of typical symptoms.


RESULTS
In the 158 questionnaires collected, the complaint of limited finger range of motion and previous treatment were rated most important. Family physicians stated that age, occupation and rate of recent triggering were considered to be additional important factors (p=.0003). In comparison with hand surgeons, family physicians reported localized tenderness as important, and the need for passive release of the finger locked in flexion as less important (p=.0003). Family physicians were more likely to treat with NSAID [p= 0.0002), orthopedic surgeons with steroid injections (p=0.0004 and hand surgeons with surgery (p=0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
According to this survey, we found differences in the acquaintance of physicians of different backgrounds with the clinical staging of trigger finger, specifically, the significance of finger contracture and indications for surgery. This information may guide training of physicians in all fields.
Oren
O
Barzel
Ohad
O
Avny
Danit
D
Langer
Michael
M
Chernofsky
Gil
G
Almog
Shai
S
Luria
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013038:Specialization; D066231:Surgeons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013717:Tenosynovitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D052582:Trigger Finger Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*