Dystrophic calcification following triamcinolone acetonide injection in a paediatric trigger thumb: A case report

Corticosteroids have been used for decades to treat various musculoskeletal conditions. A wide array of side effects, both local and systemic, which may be immediate or delayed in onset, has been reported. Soft-tissue calcifications following musculoskeletal corticosteroid injections represent delayed-onset local side effects. We report a case of soft-tissue swelling at the base of the right thumb in a 4.5-year-old girl, presenting as a hard lump approximately 16 months after treatment of paediatric trigger thumb with a local triamcinolone injection. The radiographs demonstrated ‘fluffy’ calcification in the soft tissue. Given the clear temporal association, absence of trauma and supporting literature, triamcinolone acetonide is the most likely etiological factor. To the best of our knowledge, such cases of paediatric trigger thumb have not been widely reported.