PERCUTANEOUS RELEASE OF TRIGGER DIGIT WITH AND WITHOUT CORTISONE INJECTION

Percutaneous release was done using the tip of an 18-gauge, 2.5-cm-lon g needle, mounted on a 3-mL(3) syringe in 225 trigger digits. It was s uccessful in 92 (89%) of the digits without cortisone injection (n = 1 05) and in 115 (96%) of the digits with cortisone injection (n = 120). Negligible or intermittent pain persisted for 8 weeks in the noncorti sone group and 6 weeks in the cortisone group after percutaneous relea se. Of the first 10 digits, 2 needed repeat percutaneous release. With modification of technique, the incidence of repeat percutaneous relea se was zero in both groups. Open release was needed in 8% in the nonco rtisone group and 3% in the cortisone group. The procedure was done un der local infiltration anesthesia in the office. This reduced patient anxiety, inconvenience and hospital cost.