I warmly invite anyone who suffers from trigger finger/thumb or whoes child has trigger thumb/finger to Istanbul.
Trigger finger/thumb is a condition affecting tendons that flex the fingers and thumb, typically resulting in a sensation of locking or popping when you bend and straighten your digits. Triggering is usually painful, but occationally there may be painless cases. The fingers most often affected are the thumb and the ring finger, but the condition can affect any finger.
Tendons are tough cords that attach muscles to bones. Each tendon is surrounded by a sheath. Trigger finger occurs when the affected tendon's sheath becomes irritated and swollen. Over time, with constant back and forth movement of the tendon in the swollen and narrowed sheath a small lump of tissue forms in the tendon. This lump is called a nodule. The nodule can make it even harder for the tendon to glide smoothly and pain and triggering may increase significantly.
In most patients there is no explanation for why this irritation and swelling begins.
Finger/thumb movement creates a 'popping' or 'clicking' sound or sensation.
A tender bump (nodule) in the palm at the base of the affected finger.
Finger locked in a bent position which can only be straighten by the adjacent finger or the opposite hand.
In advanced cases restriction of finger movement.
Symptoms are worse in the morning.
The diagnosis of trigger finger is based on the medical history and physical examination and no special testing is required.
If nonsurgical measures have failed or there is prolonged triggering (more than 2-3 months) or finger movement restriction have developed, I recommend and perform percutaneous or needle trigger finger or thumb release. On an outpatient basis, the triggering finger's base in the palm, the nodule site, is numbed by injecting with a fine needle (local anesthesia) and then by another needle tip the sheath over nodule is severed. Immediately the triggering disappears and finger movement returns to normal.
This innovative and minimally invasive technique is performed in a few minutes, offers patients fast relief without downtime, scars and prolonged bandages than an open incision traditional technique would require. You spend about one hour in the hospital and then you have enough time to visit and enjoy the incredible city, Istanbul.
We apply a thin bandage and request our patients to take it off the next morning. Afterwards they can wet their hands. Hand elevation is recommended for two days. The patients are allowed to use their hands immediately; for example, they can drive right away. However, it is recommended to avoid using tools such as knives or rackets that apply pressure to the procedure site for a certain period.
Complications are extremely rare in procedures performed by a surgeon experienced in percutaneous surgery. Immediately after the procdure locking and popping disappears and finger movement returns to normal. Many patients can use their hands comfortably; however, some may experience finger swelling, mildly restricted finger movement and pain for several weeks, which typically resolves spontaneously over time. In patients with chronic trigger finger, restricted finger movement, several steroid injections, multiple digit involvment, diabetes especially type one or other chronic inflammatory diseases; finger and hand swelling may be more serious and it may take 4 to 6 months to go away completely.
Recurrence is extremely rare. Our succes rate is 99%, and in recent years, open surgery has not been required.
I warmly invite anyone who suffers from trigger finger/thumb or whoes child has trigger thumb/finger to Istanbul. The information on our website is not intended to direct people to diagnosis and treatment. Do not perform all of your diagnosis and treatment procedures without consulting your doctor. Please note that all content on this site is for informational purposes only.
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