Surgical release of trigger fingers: Experience of a district general hospital in Brunei Darussalam

Pramod DEVKOTA and Shiraz AHMAD

Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Kuala Belait, Brunei Darussalam

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Trigger finger is a common finger aliment. It is caused by inflammation and subsequent narrowing of the first annular (A1) pulley producing a difference in diameters of a flexor tendon and its retinacular sheath. This causes pain, clicking, catching, and loss of motion of the affected finger. Materials and Methods:  A retrospective study of 53 cases of trigger fingers of 41 patients who were managed surgically. Analysis of the gender, predominance of hand, age, symptoms and signs, surgical outcomes and complications were carried out. Results: The mean age of the patients was 51.8 (28-79) years. There were 18 (43.9%) male and 23 (56.1%) female patients. The middle finger was the most commonly affected (37.7%, n= 20), followed by the ring finger (24.5 %, n=13), thumb (24.5%, n=13) and index finger (13.2%, n=7. Symptoms resolved completely with full range of motion of joints after the surgical release without complications like tendon injuries and neuroma. Two patients complained of pain at the operative site after three months of surgery which was successfully managed with analgesics. Conclusion: Surgical intervention by the release of A1 pulley is an ideal option for the management of trigger fingers with minimal complications.

Keywords: Trigger finger, trigger digit, surgical management, A1 pulley

Correspondence author: Pramod DEVKOTA, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Kuala Belait, Brunei Darussalam

Tel: +673 3335331 Ext 4076, +673 8665732

E mail: pramodcd@yahoo.com

Brunei Int Med J. 2012; 8 (5): 243-247