Trigger Finger Release

• Usually performed under local anesthesia as a short outpatient procedure, often 15 to 20 minutes.
• Done through a small incision at the base of the finger or thumb.
• Finger movement is encouraged right away to keep the tendon gliding.
• Light hand use typically resumes within days; soreness at the incision can last a few weeks.
• Full recovery commonly takes a few weeks to a few months, depending on how stiff the finger was before surgery.

Recovery after trigger finger release is usually quick, and the catching or locking is typically gone right away. Most people are encouraged to move the finger soon after surgery to prevent stiffness, and light use of the hand resumes within a few days. Soreness in the palm can last a few weeks, and full comfort with gripping may take a month or two. Keeping the incision clean and doing any gentle motion exercises your surgeon recommends helps recovery. Return to work depends on how much hand use it requires. Report increasing redness, drainage, fever, or a finger that becomes stiff or will not straighten.