Is the surgery for trigger finger recommended?

Trigger finger: Sometimes surgery is required. A cortisone injection may relieve the problem without surgery.

Yes: Most hand surgeons would inject first and recomend surgery for those that do not respond or recur after injection. Diabetics do not respond as well to injection and may go directly to surgery.

Somrtimes: About 80-90% of trigger fingers will resolve in a 2-3 month period, with 1-2 injections of steroid and conservative treatment. Patients with diabetes and thumbs stuck in extension don't respond as well to non-operative treatment. Surgery is the definitive treatment for this problem and has excellent results. See a board certified orthopaedic hand surgeon for further evaluation and treatment.

Sometimes: Surgery has excellent results in relieving trigger finger. occasionally patients will respond to conservative management such as steroid injections and do not require further treatment. Patients with diabetes generally do not respond as well from injections and require surgery more often than those without diabetes. Other options include endoscopic and percutaneous release.