Patient education: Trigger finger release – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — 

Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is trigger finger release? — 

This is surgery to treat "trigger finger" (figure 1). Trigger finger is a condition that keeps a finger from straightening normally. It happens when a tendon in the finger and the covering around it get inflamed. (Tendons are strong bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones.)

During trigger finger release, the surgeon cuts 1 of the ligaments around the inflamed tendon. (A ligament is a strong band of tissue.) Normally, this ligament helps keep the tendon in the finger in place. But for people with trigger finger, cutting this ligament can relieve their symptoms.

How long it takes for you to recover, and what you need to do, depends on which type of surgery you had.

How do I care for myself at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

For the first 24 hours, do not drive or operate heavy or dangerous machinery. Your doctor will tell you when you can go back to work. If you can work without using your finger, you might be able to return in 1 to 2 days.

You should also:

●Take all your medicines as instructed:

•Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

•Use a stool softener to help prevent constipation, if needed. This is a common problem if you take opioid pain medicines. Follow all instructions for taking your pain medicines.

●Help lessen pain and swelling:

•Prop your hand on pillows, keeping it raised above the level of your heart.

•Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on your finger every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time, as needed. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin.

●Take care of your incision – You might have stitches, surgical glue, or a special skin tape on your incision.

•Keep your incision dry and covered with a bandage for the first 1 to 2 days. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep it dry.

•Once you no longer need to keep your incision dry, gently wash it with soap and water whenever you take a shower. Do not put your hand underwater, such as in a bath, pool, or lake. This can slow healing and raise your chance of getting an infection.

•After you wash your incision, pat it dry. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to put an antibiotic ointment on it. They will also tell you if you need to cover it with a bandage or gauze.

•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your incision or bandage.

●Follow your doctor's instructions about moving your finger:

•Your doctor or nurse will tell you which activities to avoid while you are recovering. This might include gripping and lifting things with your affected hand.

•Your doctor might give you gentle exercises to help prevent stiffness. You can gently open and close your hand 5 to 10 times. Do these exercises every hour.

•In a few days, your doctor might have you start to gently stretch your finger, use your hand more, or lift more weight with it. They might also suggest you get hand therapy to help with movement and strength. It can take a few weeks for your finger movement to improve completely.

What follow-up care do I need? — 

The doctor will want to see you again after surgery to check on your progress. Go to these appointments.

If you have stitches, you might need to have them taken out. Your doctor will usually want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. Some stitches absorb on their own and do not need to be removed. If the doctor used skin glue or skin tape, it will fall off on its own. Do not pick at it or try to remove it yourself.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call your doctor or nurse if you have:

●A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills

●Tingling or numbness in your finger or hand

●Redness or swelling around your incision or where the needle went in

●Drainage or a bad smell coming from your incision, or red streaks going up your forearm

More on this topic

Patient education: Trigger finger release (The Basics)
Patient education: Trigger finger (The Basics)
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