Trigger Finger Vienna | Outpatient Release

What is a trigger finger?

The flexor tendons of the fingers run through small tunnels – the pulleys. In a trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis) the first of these pulleys, the A1 pulley at the base of the finger, is narrowed. The thickened tendon catches on it and, on straightening, suddenly snaps forward.

Untreated, the catching typically gets worse: painful at first, then audible snapping – and in the advanced stage the finger can lock completely in a bent position.

Typical symptoms: the finger snaps when bending

Catching and snapping when bending or straightening the finger
Worst in the morning – the finger feels stiff and "stuck" after waking
Tenderness at the base of the finger in the palm, sometimes a palpable nodule
Advanced stage: the finger locks completely and must be straightened with the other hand

How I treat a trigger finger

Two steps – and both work reliably:

Early stage: cortisone injection

A targeted injection into the tendon sheath lets the swelling settle – in many patients lastingly successful. Worth trying before any operation, especially with a short history and mild symptoms.

The reliable solution: outpatient pulley release

If the finger keeps snapping or locks: as an outpatient under local anaesthesia, the narrowed A1 pulley is released through a small incision in the palm so the tendon glides freely again. The procedure takes only a few minutes, the fingers can be moved actively straight away, and you go home the same day – the snapping is gone from day one.

Recovery: quickly back in action

Because the fingers may – and should – be moved immediately, the downtime is short: light everyday activities are possible at once, sutures come out after 10–14 days, and full loading with strong gripping usually returns after 3–4 weeks.

For office work most patients are back within a few days; for physical work with strong gripping, plan on about 3–4 weeks.

Why patients with hand problems come to me

→Injection first where it makes sense – surgery only when it is the better solution
→Outpatient, local anaesthesia, immediate mobility – no hospital stay
→With supplementary insurance: costs generally covered in full, direct billing

Frequently asked questions about trigger finger

That is a trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis): the flexor tendon is thickened and catches at the A1 pulley – on further bending it snaps through audibly. In the early stage a cortisone injection often helps. If the finger keeps snapping or locks completely, a small outpatient operation (pulley release) solves the problem reliably and permanently.

In a trigger finger (snapping finger, stenosing tenosynovitis) the pulley over the flexor tendon is narrowed. The thickened tendon catches on it and suddenly snaps forward on straightening – often painful, worst in the morning. In the advanced stage the finger can lock completely.

Yes, in the early stage: a targeted cortisone injection into the tendon sheath lets the swelling settle and is lastingly successful in many patients. With recurring symptoms or a locked finger, the small operation is the reliable solution.

As an outpatient under local anaesthesia: through a small incision in the palm the narrowed A1 pulley is released so the tendon glides freely again. The procedure takes only a few minutes, the fingers can be moved actively straight away, and you go home the same day.

Light everyday activities are possible immediately, and the snapping is gone from day one. Sutures come out after 10–14 days; full loading and strong gripping usually after 3–4 weeks.

For office work usually only a few days, for physical work with strong gripping about 3–4 weeks. The fingers may be moved immediately – which noticeably shortens the downtime.

With supplementary (Sonderklasse) insurance the costs of the outpatient procedure are generally covered in full – with direct billing. Self-payers receive a transparent cost estimate in advance.