Abstract

Background: Trigger finger is the chronic inflammation of the flexor tendon sheath. Objectives: This study aims to compare the characteristics of trigger digits among Type I and Type II diabetes mellitus patients. Methods: We reviewed the medical charts of diabetic patients with trigger finger between 1995 to 2017 at Security Forces Hospital. Data (age, gender, comorbidities, hemoglobin A1c levels, the digits involved) were obtained and analyzed using SPSS. Results: A total of 101 diabetic patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Patients were categorized into non-insulin dependent dainties mellitus (NIDDM) and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). A higher percentage of trigger finger was noted among NIDDM. Among the patients, right-hand involvement was more common that left-hand involvement. In both hands, the middle finger was the most commonly affected digit, and the little finger was the least affected. Results show that age was significantly associated with trigger figure in patients with type II DM (OR = 1.264, 95% CI = 1.09–1.5, p-value = 0.001). These patients were also more likely to have higher levels of HbA1c (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.33–1.00, p-value = 0.050). The involvement of multiple digits was noteworthy in both types. Conclusion: Age and high HBA1C was significantly associated with trigger finger among diabetic patients. The majority of patients had multiple digit involvement with the right-hand involvement affected more often than the left.

Keywords: Trigger finger, Diabetes mellitus, HBA1C, Chart review, Hand.