Possible Complications after Trigger Finger Treatment Surgery

Like other invasive treatments, surgical surgery of trigger finger carries some risk. You need to ask your doctor about some of the risks. There are at least three surgical options for trigger finger. It is important to find out which one carries the least risk and if it will work for you. Knowing some of the complications will help be better prepared should anything go wrong during surgery. Some of the risks include the finger remaining bent, temporary swelling, and stiffness of the affected finger. Read more about Providence’s trigger finger treatment options here.

In the following article by Fraser J. Leversedge and Rachel Rhode on orthoinfo.aaos.org, trigger finger is analyzed, including how it occurs, why and the possible remedies.

Examinations Carried out by Doctors before Giving a Diagnosis of Trigger Finger

Trigger finger is a condition that causes pain, stiffness, and a sensation of locking or catching when you bend and straighten your finger. The condition is also known as “stenosing tenosynovitis.” The ring finger and thumb are most often affected by trigger finger, but it can occur in the other fingers, as well. When the thumb is involved, the condition is called “trigger thumb.”

The flexor tendons are long cord-like structures that attach the muscles of the forearm to the bones of the fingers. When the muscles contract, the flexor tendons allow the fingers to bend. Read more here

Even though it may seem obvious that you have trigger finger, your doctor will need to confirm it. He will analyze the signs and symptoms while examining your hand. This is done to ensure the doctor understands the gravity of your condition so that he can recommend the appropriate treatment.  Most doctors do not automatically go for x-rays unless it is necessary. Some of the signs the doctor will look for include swelling of the tendon sheath, locking when you bend and straighten your finger, and tenderness on your finger.

In the next article on webmd.com, the author discusses everything about trigger finger, from the moment you discover it, to recovery after surgery.

The Different Stages of Trigger Finger

Trigger finger is a painful condition that makes your fingers or thumb catch or lock when you bend them. It can affect any finger, or more than one. You might hear it called stenosing tenosynovitis. When it affects your thumb, it’s called trigger thumb.

Most of the time, it comes from a repeated movement or forceful use of your finger or thumb. It can also happen when tendons — tough bands of tissue that connect muscles and bones in your finger or thumb — get inflamed. Together, they and the muscles in your hands and arms bend and straighten your fingers and thumbs. Read more here

The symptoms of trigger finger start mild and progress to become severe. This is why many patients first ignore trigger finger when they first notice it. Failure to deal with it at the on-set in the hope that it will go away only makes the situation worse. Some of the first signs include pain when you bend or straighten your finger and a popping sound when moving the finger. When left unattended, the symptoms will become more pronounced.

In the following article on physio-pedia.com, the author gives a clinical presentation of what happens when you experience trigger finger. 

Importance of Confirming if You Have Trigger Finger

Each digit of the hand has the ability to move freely throughout a full ROM into flexion and extension. The efficiency, fluidity, and forcefulness of such movement is made possible by several “pulleys” along each digit of the hand. These pulley systems are comprised of a series of retinacular-type structures that are either annular or cruciform in nature.[1] There are five annular pulleys (A1-A5) and three cruciform pulleys (C1-C3).

Trigger finger is thought to be caused by inflammation and subsequent narrowing of the A1 pulley of the affected digit, typically the third or fourth. A difference in size between the flexor tendon sheath and the flexor tendons may lead to abnormalities of the gliding mechanism by causing actual abrasion between the two surfaces… Read more here

Conclusion

It is easy to assume that you have trigger finger when your finger locks when you fold it. However, there are several ailments associated with the finger behaving this way as well. You might start treating trigger finger, yet there may be an underlying condition. Some of the illnesses which have finger popping as a symptom include focal dystonia and flexor tendon or sheath tumor.