Candida albicans Flexor Tenosynovitis after Trigger Finger Release: A Case Report

Tenosynovitis caused by fungi, especially Candida species, is rare. We report a case of an immunocompetent patient with finger flexor tenosynovitis caused by Candida albicans after trigger finger release (TFR). Intratendon sheath triamcinolone injection and subsequent TFR surgery might contribute to the occurrence of Candida tenosynovitis. We performed a tenosynovectomy twice because the pathology was unclear after the first tenosynovectomy. The culture of synovial tissue from the first tenosynovectomy was negative. However, the culture from the second tenosynovectomy tested positive for Candida albicans. We must consider the possibility of infection with low virulent pathogens such as fungi even if cultures are negative. When hand tenosynovitis is observed in immunocompromised or immunocompetent patients with invasive procedures, such as local injection or surgery, Candida infection should be considered a potential root cause even in the absence of positive results for the presence of fungi in the specimens being tested.