Trigger Finger Release Surgery - Post Surgery Care Advice

NUH occupational therapist shares post trigger finger release surgery care advice and ways to reduce swelling, improve flexibility with scar massage, etc.

Tips to facilitate your recovery after surgery:
1) Use your hand and affected finger to do light tasks like combing, holding cutleries, wearing clothes, etc. as keeping your hand active will help reduce swelling and prevent stiffness

2) Remember to keep your bandaged hand clean and dry at all times; cover it with plastic bag secured with tape during showering.

3) For 2 to 3 days after surgery, whenever you are seated, elevate your hand above your heart to reduce swelling.

4) Don’t be afraid to move your affected finger after surgery! Start doing the finger exercises you learn from your therapist right away.

5) Scar tissue may limit your motion, function or is painful with touch. After your stitches have been removed, start doing the scar massage your therapist has taught you.

6) Seek medical attention immediately if you develop the following after the surgery:

- Fever of 38 degrees Celsius or more
- New or different coloured discharge
- Moderate to extreme pain at surgical wound
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Rapid heartbeat
- Light-headedness
- Dizziness

00:00 - Introduction
00:19 - About the wound
00:40 - Type of light daily activities allowed
00:57 - Activities to avoid while wound heals
01:33 - Return to work
01:52 - Wound care
02:10 - Showering tips
02:23 - Removal of stitches
02:49 - Management of pain and swelling
03:19 - Finger exercise: Isolated tendon gliding exercise
03:58 - Finger exercise: Hook then full fist
04:20 - Scar massage & stretching
05:32 - Post-surgery symptoms to look out for

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About National University Hospital (NUH) (Singapore):
NUH is Singapore's major tertiary hospital and referral centre with over 50 medical, surgical and dental specialties. It is the only public hospital in Singapore to offer a comprehensive suite of specialist care for adults, women and children as well as paediatric kidney and liver transplant programme, in addition to kidney, liver and pancreas transplantations for adults.

[margaretsparksrittenhouse]

Very well done video: clear, structured and followable. 🙂

[josereyalo]

Just great! Thanks, just what I was looking for! I'm on day 3 right now after a carpal tunnel release surgery + trigger finger release surgery.🙏🙏

[monaalsaihati]

Very clear precise instructions, they helped me a lot with my trigger finger surgery. Thank you

[kgje]

Thank you for the very clear detailed instructions on how to care for my finger after surgery! I was hoping to get my stitches removed after a week, but may have to wait longer.Thanks again for your help.

[conniegal]

Thank you so much for your excellent video - I actually learned a lot more from you than from watching other health professionals explaining the process! I have a thumb trigger and I'm scheduled for surgery in a few weeks. I've had several injections and each last about 6 months to 1 year. I'd rather keep getting those but my surgeon recommended surgery, saying it's time. Thanks again for your clear explanations/visuals.

[HHummer]

Thanks that was a very informative video. 👍🏼

[CA-ufeo]

I can’t straighten my middle finger out 😖😢

[amandasouthard]

Very helpful and informative ❤ Thank you so much for sharing this ❤

[AnotherMartinez]

Thank you for this video - would you make one for children?

[yvettehoward]

I did mine 5weeks ago I'm still having pain and stiffness in my finger and stiffness in my palm.anyways very interesting information

[minniyoutubaster]

I had trigger-surgery last week (of long mid-finger). In reference to your video-demo, I cannot press on the part of the finger that's between 1st joint and the crease-of-palm. Because when I do, it hurts deeply (like a black-and-blue mark) and feels detrimental to healing. Also, at my stitched-up incision area, I don't feel numbness/tingling. Rather, I feel both itching AND deep-pain - like a deep black-and-blue mark. Note that when I do extension of the finger (rather than flexion) that feels more benefically therapeutic to me.

[ZA-wmmm]

Good info
Sounds like a hostage video

[reinarddesli]

How to heal wound after surgery trigger finger close again. Almost a month my wound still open afer stitches lifted.

[shekhzakirhusain]

My hand operation was done four days ago now my hand is green what is the problem

[souhailbenameur]

Dr i need your advise I had the trigger finger because I played guitar successively without rest and one morning my finger started to lock up I automatically stopped playing the guitar after I consulted a doctor and he told me that for the moment he is going to prescribe me naproxen anti inflammatory pills and if that does not reduce the inflammation i have to go back to see him so that he injects me with cortisone and now 1 year has passed i have found that with the stretching and the exercises and rest the nodule in the tendon of my ring finger has reduced in volume but at 80 percent but now sometimes my 5 fingers become paralyzed in the morning and loses sensitivity when I try to open them in the morning when I wake up what suggest to do in this case . Thanks

[htantung]

Hi, I just done the trigger surgery yesterday. I’ve read many articles, few say the bully will grow back wider, few say the bully won’t. Would please advise on this. Thanks!