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If you have a problem or need advice after going home please contact: The Sheffield Hand Centre. 0114 305 2364. Monday to Friday: 7.00am – 7.30pm Saturday: 7.00am – 3.00pm. Outside of these hours when the Hand Centre is closed please ring: The Surgical Assessment Centre. 0114 226 9400. Alternatively you can contact:
released by holding firmly as show. .Bend and straighten the fingerti. e thumb tip.Using your other hand Gently push your fingers or thumb towa. ds your palm using your other hand.Should you have any queries or concerns please telephone the Therapy Department on telephone: 01257 488272 Reception hou.
Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) 2020. 45; 10; 1078 -1082. Your comments. We are always interested to hear your views about our leaflets. If you have any comments, please contact the Patient Experience Team – Tel: 0300 131 4731 (direct dial) or by email at: esh-tr.patientexperience@nhs.net. Hand hygiene.
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- Overview
- What is trigger finger?
- Types of surgery
- Recovery and aftercare
- Who requires surgery?
- Complications
- Causes
- Outlook
Trigger finger can leave the finger or thumb stuck in a bent or flexed position. It happens when the protective sheath covering the tendon becomes inflamed. Surgery to cut the tendon sheath can relieve pain and stiffness.
If other treatments are not successful or the condition is severe, surgery is usually successful in restoring full movement.
Trigger finger or stenosing tenosynovitis is when the finger gets stuck in a particular position at one or more of the joints.
Trigger finger can make it difficult to move or use the finger; it also causes pain and discomfort.
The condition can affect any finger or the thumb and can occur in one or more fingers. Trigger finger is sometimes called trigger digit, as it can affect the thumb as well as the fingers.
Tendons connect the bones to muscles, allowing them to move. The tendons are protected by a covering called a sheath. When the tendon sheath becomes inflamed, it can make the gliding of the tendon within the sheath irregular, too tight, or incongruent, may sometimes result in trigger finger.
The symptoms of trigger finger are:
•pain at the base of the finger or thumb when it moves or is pressed on
There are three types of surgery for trigger finger:
•Open surgery: A surgeon makes a small incision in the palm of the hand and then cuts the tendon sheath to give the tendon more room to move. The surgeon will use stitches to close the wound. A person will typically be given a local anesthetic so should not feel any pain.
•Percutaneous release surgery: This surgery is also done using a local anesthetic. A surgeon inserts a needle into the bottom of the digit to cut the tendon sheath. This type of surgery does not leave a wound.
•Tenosynovectomy: A doctor will only recommend this procedure if the first two options are not suitable, such as in person with rheumatoid arthritis. A tenosynovectomy involves removing part of the tendon sheath, allowing the finger to move freely again.
Open surgery has traditionally been preferred by medical professionals because it has a very low risk of complications.
There is a small chance that percutaneous release surgery may damage blood vessels or nerves close to the tendon sheath.
Surgery may initially cause some pain or soreness. Doctors may recommend over-the-counter painkillers for relief.
Immediately after surgery, a person should be able to move their finger or thumb. Be gentle with movements at first; full movement can be expected to return in 1 to 2 weeks.
People should keep a dressing on their finger for a few days following open surgery. After this, they must keep the wound clean, using mild soap and water.
If a person has stitches, a medical professional may need to remove them after 2 to 3 weeks. Dissolvable stitches will dissolve within 3 weeks.
A person should ask their doctor about when they can resume everyday activities, such as driving or using a computer. Recovery time may be longer for someone who has had trigger finger surgery on more than one finger or thumb.
Some people may need to do finger exercises or undertake hand therapy to return full movement to the affected digit.
If left untreated, trigger finger can become permanent. If the affected finger or thumb becomes stuck or fixed in a bent position, it can make day-to-day tasks more difficult.
However, trigger finger is curable without surgery in most cases. Non-surgical treatments include:
•injecting steroids into the base of the affected digit to reduce swelling
•strapping or splinting the digit to stop it moving
•taking anti-inflammatory medication
•reducing or temporarily stopping the activity that causes pain
All three types of trigger finger surgery are considered low risk and straightforward, so complications are unlikely.
There are some risks, and a doctor should explain these before surgery. These include:
•scarring
•infection
•pain, stiffness, or reduced ability to move the digit
•nerve damage
Trigger finger can affect anyone, but the following groups have a higher risk of developing the condition:
•people aged 40 to 60
•women
•people who have had a hand injury in the past
•people with rheumatoid arthritis
•people with diabetes
Trigger finger surgery is usually effective, and the problem is unlikely to happen again after surgery.
Both the open and percutaneous release methods of surgery have a high success rate, and recovery is relatively quick.
- Claire Sissons
Further Information. We endeavour to provide an excellent service at all times, but should you have any concerns please, in the first instance, raise these with the Matron, Senior Nurse or Manager on duty. If they cannot resolve your concern, please contact our Patient Experience Team on 01932 723553 or email asp-tr.patient.advice@nhs.net.
then suddenly pop straight. This is like a trigger being pulled and released. With time, your child may get a small lump at the bottom of their finger or thumb where it joins the palm of the hand. The aim of the procedure is to release your child's trigger finger or thumb. This should make it
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Orthopaedics / Trigger finger treatment options Trigger finger treatment options, February 2024 3 Occasionally, the scar from surgery can be painful and massaging it will help ease the pain. Light use of the hand is possible from the day of surgery and active use of the finger is encouraged to prevent complications.
