Chronic trigger finger outpatient basis hypodermic percutaneous release and functional outcome

Abstract

Trigger finger is a stenosing tenosynovitis producing triggering/ clicking on finger movements along with pain and swelling. This condition although most often involves the thumb, however, any finger of the hand can be involved. Fibrocartilaginous metaplasia of the tendon near the A1 pulley causes nodule formation, resulting in triggering of the finger on finger movements. Treatment of this condition starts with NSAIDS, activity modification to the open surgical release of the A1 pulley. We present our outpatient-based, hypodermic needle release of A1 pulley of triggering finger for chronic trigger finger with functional recovery. In our 30 digits with triggering complaints for more than 6 months, 20 patients were females. Thumb was involved in 19 cases and Age ranged from 25 to 68 years. Using a hypodermic 18 G needle, the average duration of the procedure including local anaesthesia application was 6 minutes. We observed successful results in 97% of cases, one trigger finger needed open release after the persistence of symptoms. No complication was observed in any case during the follow-up period. Hypodermic Needle based release of A1 pulley for trigger finger is a safe, cost-effective, reliable, reproducible procedure with acceptable functional outcome, and we recommend this procedure for chronic trigger finger management.