Ninety-seven adult patients suffering from stenosing tenosynovitis, also known as trigger finger, were randomly allocated to treatment using either two staged corticosteroid injections or a single injection. Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores were used to assess effectiveness of treatment; no significant differences in DASH scores were found between one- and two-injection treatments. Diabetic patients (insulin and non-insulin dependent) who experienced treatment failure prior to 1 year after injection were more likely to require surgical intervention than non-diabetic patients.