Jeremy Field - Consultant Orthopaedic and Hand Surgeon

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The tendons in your finger go through a tight fibrous tunnel. The analogy of a trigger finger is very similar to a bicycle brake cable, which has a white plastic sheath and a metal wire that runs in and out of the plastic sheath. If you have a lump on the piece of metal it will get snagged as it tries to get in and out of the plastic. Essentially you have a lump on your tendon, which is trying to go in and out of a tight tunnel and your finger does not like it and nor do you!. On average Mr Field performs 100 of these operations per year

ANAESTHETIC

General or regional anaesthetic.

OPERATIVE PROCEDURE

This procedure can be done under a local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic. Generally a longitudinal incision is made in the palm in the line of your finger. Nerves are identified on either side of your finger before identifying the entrance of the tunnel through which the tendon passes. The entrance of the tunnel is then released so that the tendon flows freely. The wound is then stitched.

POST OPERATIVELY

A sticky dressing is then applied. A bulky dressing then goes on top of that, which should be maintained for forty-eight hours.

Return to work

Patients can return to work between 2 day and 3 weeks post operatively.

RESULTS

The operation is about 95% successful.

COMPLICATIONS

Scar tenderness. Because the scar is in your palm it can be tender for 6-8 weeks.
Infection. This is a rare occurrence as long as the infection is caught early. It is treated simply with antibiotics. Essentially the symptoms of infection will be increasing pain rather than decreasing pain after the operation.
Recurrence. Trigger fingers can recur. Generally this only occurs is diabetics.
PIP joint / finger stiffness: Hence important to move fingers.