Trigger digits are uncommon in infants. We prospectively examined 1046
newborns to determine the congenital incidence of this condition. No
trigger digits were identified among these children. This correlates b
y power calculation to an incidence of 0-3 trigger digits per 1000 liv
e births. We then retrospectively reviewed the records of all children
who had undergone surgical release of trigger digits at our hospital
from July 1989 to July 1992. Seventy-three children underwent 89 trigg
er thumb releases and 5 children had 11 trigger finger releases. Only
seven of these children presented at less than 6 months of age and non
e presented at less than 3 months of age. This study raises the possib
ility that trigger digits may represent lesions acquired after birth.