Trigger finger release in adults

For the treatment of

Trigger finger

Commissioning position

This intervention is commissioned if the following criteria have been met:

Triggering persists or recurs after:
- splinting for at least 12 weeks OR
- one steroid injection (potentially a second if there is improvement after the first)

The finger is permanently locked in a fully flexed position in the palm OR
The person has previously had 2 other trigger fingers unsuccessfully treated with appropriate non operative methods OR
The person has Diabetes Mellitus

Summary of rationale

Treatment with steroid injections usually resolves troublesome trigger fingers within 1 week (strong evidence) but sometimes the triggering keeps recurring. Surgery is normally successful (strong evidence), provides better outcomes than a single steroid injection at 1 year and usually provides a permanent cure. Recovery after surgery takes 2-4 weeks. Problems sometimes occur after surgery, but these are rare (<3%)