Results of treatment of neglected finger stiffness with steroids and intensive exercises

Abstract

Introduction: Finger stiffness following treatment for skeletal trauma to the hand is a common and challenging issue for hand surgeons. The primary causes of immobilization are fractures within the hand or wrist. Immobilization of the fingers is generally harmful and rarely necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of treating patients with neglected finger stiffness using a combination of steroids and intensive rehabilitation.
Materials and methods: Between 2020–2023, 11 female patients with post-traumatic finger stiffness were treated at the author’s institution. On average, treatment began 5 months after the injury. All patients underwent a 5–7 day hospital stay, receiving drug therapy (8 mg of dexamethasone i.v.) combined with intensive, supervised hand rehabilitation.
Results: All but 1 patient achieved full finger flexion. One patient experienced a persistent flexion loss of 2 cm (initial loss was 7 cm). Grip strength showed slight improvement, and all patients regained the ability to grasp objects with the affected hand. Patient satisfaction with the treatment outcome was universally high.
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate the high effectiveness of the proposed treatment, which was safe, free of adverse effects, and enabled a rapid return of hand function for daily activities and work.