What is a trigger finger?

Trigger finger is the condition where the tendon gets locked in the bent position. Sometimes, it is quite painful and can be accompanied by limited movement and weakness of the finger. The situation becomes problematic due to a stuck tendon bent on one part of the tendon sheath. Your doctor may try either injections or surgical treatment to cure this condition. During surgery, your surgeon opens up the part of the tendon sheath that's making your tendon stick, thus relieving pain and resorting to finger motion.

Who are good candidates for this surgery?

If the other treatment options have not worked and your symptoms are severe, your doctor would probably refer you for surgery.

Why is surgery performed?

The surgery is often required in the case of pain or stiffness of the finger due to irritation of the protective sheath surrounding the tendon of your finger, which is recurrent. The covering's swelling, thickening, and bump may result in irritation, causing it not to slide through the tendon smoothly.

What is involved in trigger finger release surgery?

At this juncture, the surgery creates a bigger opening in the sheath, making it easier for the tendon to slide through.

Your surgeon makes an incision within your palm and opens the tendon sheath tunnel so that it may be released. Of course, it is a minor process that can easily be undergone with wide-awake hand surgery or light sedation. You should be able to go home the same day and do some light work with your hands. After your procedure, we want to give you broad aftercare to ensure a successful recovery.

How should I prepare for surgery?

You will not be able to eat on the day of surgery. Ask your physician how long you must go without food before surgery. Depending on your scheduled surgery time, you might have to eat dinner the night before, earlier than usual. You should be able to drink water as you usually would. Just avoid drinking other beverages, like soda, juice, or milk.

How is this treatment performed?

There are two methods of trigger finger surgery: open and percutaneous release.

Open surgery:

Trigger finger surgery can be outpatient. That means you are in an operating room but do not have to stay overnight in the hospital. The surgery should last from a few minutes to half an hour. Then you will go home.

Your surgeon first administers to you a mild sedative by intravenous line to help you relax. An IV infuses liquid medicine from a bag into your arm via a tube and a needle.

A local anesthetic is first injected into your hand, which numbs the area, and then the surgeon makes about a 1/2-inch cut in the palm of your hand, usually in line with the injured finger or thumb. The surgeon then cuts the tendon sheath. A thickened sheath can sometimes impede movement. The doctor moves your finger around to check the smooth motion, and you get some stitches to close the tiny cut.

Percutaneous release:

This is the most commonly performed procedure on the middle and ring fingers. It can also be done at a doctor's office.

Your doctor anesthetizes your palm and pushes a strong needle through the skin over your infected tendon. The doctor swishes the needle and your finger to move the obstructed area apart. Sometimes, the doctor uses ultrasound and can visualize that the point of the needle opens up the tendon sheath.

No cutting or incision

What are the non-surgical treatments?

The Non-surgical treatment includes:

• This usually involves resting the hand for three to four weeks by avoiding activities that may cause repetitive motion.
• Finger immobilization Use a night splint to hold the affected finger straight, usually for up to six weeks.
• Prescription or over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease pain, unlikely to reduce edema, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) or naproxen (Aleve)
• Administer 1 or 2 doses of steroid (glucocorticoid) near the tendon sheath to reduce inflammation
• The most common treatment is injection of steroids. They will relieve the symptoms in up to 90 percent of patients who do not have diabetes. Steroid injections are less likely to be effective in diabetic patients or other patients whose health is generally poor.

Your doctor may turn to surgery earlier if you have diabetes or your symptoms are significant. Symptoms can include:

• You cannot move your fingers or hands sufficiently to be able to use them, or that makes their use difficult.
• Your fingers, thumbs, hands, or your forearms hurt.
• An inability to do everyday activities without becoming awkward or painful, such as work, hobbies, or other leisure pursuits.
• Embarrassment and nervousness regarding having the trigger finger.
• It gradually gets worse, to the point where you keep dropping things and can't pick them up, or even more significantly, cannot grasp anything.

How long does the surgery take to recover from the trigger finger?

Because this is minor hand surgery, you leave the hospital on the same day. Usually, you'll need to keep your hand raised and bandaged for two days. It would help if you also attempted to do some of the exercises we discussed before.

It will take about six weeks to recover fully. This is the amount of time it may take so that everything's okay again.

However, if you don't use your hands much, you can return to work 1-2 days after your surgery. The first thing is to talk with your doctor for advice on whether it's safe to do so or not. In all cases, they can tell you what your recovery from hand surgery might take.

How successful is a surgical intervention of the trigger finger?

The success rate of trigger finger surgery is over 90%. However, sometimes if patients do not move their fingers much after surgery, they may get some stiffness. Otherwise, recovery is usually quick, with office work permitted immediately. The extent of recovery up to manual labor jobs may take 4-6 weeks.

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital Trigger finger release?

Tender Palm Hospital, owned by doctors, is renowned for attracting the most skilled professionals in the country. With the finest Orthopedic surgeons, specialized in Trigger finger. Tender Palm stands out as the premier orthopedic hospital in Lucknow, India. Boasting cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced technology, Tender Palm ensures top-notch medical care for its patients.

To seek an expert consultation for any orthopedic condition.

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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