Surgical treatment of trigger finger in adults

Abstract

Background: Trigger finger (TF) is a common stenosing tenosynovitis characterized by painful catching or locking of the flexor tendon of the finger. In this study, we evaluated the results of patients diagnosed with TF who underwent A1 pulley release through open incision.

Methods: Between January 2024 and April 2025, 211 patients (161 females, 50 males; mean age 59.4 ± 11.05 years; range, 18-86 years) with a diagnosis of TF who underwent open A1 pulley release were included in the study.

Results: Involvement was on the right in 124 (58.7%) hands and on the left in 87 (41.2%) hands. The thumb was affected in 62 (50%), second finger in 9 (7.2%), third finger in 22 (17.7%), fourth finger in 28 (22.6%), and fifth finger in 3 (2.4%) of those with right hand involvement. In the left hand, 56 (64.4%) involved the thumb, 2 (2.3%) the second finger, 15 (17.2%) the third finger, 11 (12.6%) the fourth finger, and 3 (3.4%) the fifth finger. The mean follow-up period was 7.8 ± 4.9 (range, 1-16) months. Postoperative recurrence rates were as no recurrence in 206 (97.6%) patients and recurrence in 5 (2.4%) patients.

Conclusions: The open release method we applied in the surgical treatment of TF is an effective and reliable method in that all anatomical structures, especially the A1 pulley, are visible, reducing the development of neurovascular complications and allowing the A1 pulley to be completely loosened.