SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF PERCUTANEOUS TRIGGER FINGER RELEASE

Twenty-five A1 pulleys in 5 fresh cadaveric hands and 13 trigger finge rs in 11 patients were released percutaneously with a 19 gauge needle, as described by Eastwood et al., to determine the efficacy and safety of the technique. Over 90% of the length of each individual finger an d thumb A1 pulley were successfully released in the cadaveric digits w ith no injuries to the A2 pulley, nerves, or vessels. Superficial abra sions were noted in four superficialis tendons. In our surgical series , complete clinical release (eradication of triggering) was achieved i n each digit. In 8 of 13 digits, the A1 pulley was found to be complet ely divided on open exploration. In five digits, while triggering was eliminated, some of the A1 pulley remained intact. There were no compl ications. Because of the proximity of digital nerves, we do not perfor m percutaneous release in the index finger or thumb.