Trigger Finger: Adult and Pediatric Treatment Strategies

Juan M Giugale; John R Fowler

doi:10.1016/j.ocl.2015.06.014

Trigger Finger: Adult and Pediatric Treatment Strategies

Orthop Clin North Am. 2015 Oct;46(4):561-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ocl.2015.06.014. Epub 2015 Aug 13.

Authors

Juan M Giugale¹, John R Fowler²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Suite 1010, Kaufmann Building, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
² Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Suite 1010, Kaufmann Building, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Electronic address: Johnfowler10@gmail.com.

PMID: 26410644
DOI: 10.1016/j.ocl.2015.06.014

Abstract

Trigger fingers are common tendinopathies representing a stenosing flexor tenosynovitis of the fingers. Adult trigger finger can be treated nonsurgically using activity modification, splinting, and/or corticosteroid injections. Surgical treatment options include percutaneous A1 pulley release and open A1 pulley release. Excision of a slip of the flexor digitorum superficialis is reserved for patients with persistent triggering despite A1 release or patients with persistent flexion contracture. Pediatric trigger thumb is treated with open A1 pulley release. Pediatric trigger finger is treated with release of the A1 pulley with excision of a slip or all of the flexor digitorum superficialis if triggering persists.

Keywords: A1 pulley release; Corticosteroid injection; Percutaneous release; Trigger finger; Trigger thumb.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Algorithms
Child
Fingers / anatomy & histology
Humans
Trigger Finger Disorder / classification
Trigger Finger Disorder / therapy*