Trigger finger treatment in Dubai

Where in Dubai

Dr. Subhash Ushakoyala, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, sees fingers and thumbs that click, catch or lock at Grand Infinity Medical Center in Al Muteena, Deira, Dubai. Diabetes raises the chance of trigger finger, so he asks about your blood sugar at the first visit. Most people start with rest and a splint, and he explains when a small operation is worth considering.

What is trigger finger?

The tendons that bend your fingers run along the palm side of each finger, held close to the bone by a series of tight bands called pulleys. In trigger finger, the tendon or the first pulley, at the base of the finger, becomes thickened. The tendon then cannot glide smoothly. It catches as you bend or straighten the finger, which can click, pop or lock in a bent position until you push it straight. It can affect any finger or the thumb. It is more common after 40 and in people with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. It can settle by itself, and most cases respond to simple treatment.

Common signs

• A finger or thumb that clicks or pops when you bend or straighten it.
• A finger that gets stuck bent and needs the other hand to straighten it.
• A tender lump at the base of the finger, in the palm.
• Stiffness and catching that are worse in the morning.
• Pain in the palm when you grip tools, bags or a steering wheel.

How Dr. Subhash approaches it

Trigger finger treatment is on Dr. Subhash's own list of the problems he treats. He examines the hand, feels for the thickened tendon and checks for related conditions such as a Dupuytren contracture or arthritis. He usually starts with rest from gripping and a splint, and explains whether an injection could help, and when a small operation to free the tendon is worth considering; he performs that release himself. If you have diabetes, he talks through how an injection can affect your blood sugar.

What to expect

1. 01

   Consultation

   He asks which finger is affected and how often it locks, then examines the hand. Trigger finger is usually diagnosed by examination alone.

2. 02

   Rest and pain relief

   Avoiding hard gripping and taking anti-inflammatory pain relief, if suitable for you, can let mild cases settle.

3. 03

   Splint

   A small splint that keeps the finger straight, often worn at night, rests the tendon.

4. 04

   If it does not settle

   He explains whether an injection or a small operation could help.

5. 05

   Release surgery if needed

   If the finger keeps locking, a short day-case operation, usually under local anaesthetic, opens the tight pulley so the tendon can glide again.

Getting better

Every patient is different. These are typical milestones, not a promise; your own plan comes from your consultation.

• Mild cases may settle over some weeks with rest and a splint.
• An injection, when it works, usually eases the catching within a few weeks.
• After a release, people can usually move the finger straight away and use the hand for light tasks within days.
• Soreness and some stiffness in the palm can take a few weeks to a few months to settle.

Risks to know about

• Injections work less well in people with diabetes, long-standing triggering or trigger thumb.
• A steroid injection can raise blood sugar for about ten to fourteen days in people with diabetes who take insulin.
• After surgery: wound soreness, stiffness and, rarely, infection or nerve injury.

When to book a visit

Where to book