Trigger Finger Treatment: When Is an Injection Enough and When Is Surgery Considered?

Trigger finger does not always begin with a finger that is completely locked.

For some people, the first symptom is a subtle click. Others notice tenderness in the palm or morning stiffness. Over time, the finger may begin catching more forcefully and eventually require help from the opposite hand to straighten.

Because the condition exists on a spectrum, treatment does too.

Dr Daniel Durand’s practice offers both injection therapy and trigger finger decompression, depending on the clinical situation.

What is actually causing the finger to catch?

The flexor tendons need to glide smoothly for the fingers to bend and straighten.

In trigger finger, this movement becomes restricted. The tendon has difficulty passing through part of its surrounding sheath, producing resistance.

When enough force is applied, the tendon may suddenly pass through the restricted area. The patient experiences this as a click, pop or snap.

As the condition progresses, the mechanical obstruction can become more significant.

That distinction matters because occasional discomfort and recurrent locking do not necessarily require the same treatment strategy.

When can non-surgical treatment be considered?

A finger that remains mobile and has relatively early symptoms may be approached differently from one that has become persistently locked.

Injection therapy is one of the non-surgical options available for trigger finger through Dr Durand’s practice.

The appropriateness of an injection depends on the individual presentation. Symptom duration, severity, previous treatment and other health factors may influence the decision.

The important point is that having trigger finger does not automatically mean having surgery.

What if the symptoms return?

Recurrence or persistence changes the discussion.

A patient may initially experience manageable clicking but later notice that the finger catches during work, gripping or everyday activities. Morning locking may become more pronounced.

At that stage, repeatedly adapting how the hand is used does not correct the underlying mechanical restriction.

If conservative treatment has not provided adequate improvement, surgical decompression may become an option.

What happens during trigger finger release?

The purpose of trigger finger decompression is mechanical: to create enough space for the tendon to move more freely.

Dr Durand’s procedure information describes release through a small incision near the base of the affected finger, where the restricted portion of the tendon sheath can be released.

This is very different from replacing or reconstructing the finger joint. The procedure addresses the structure interfering with tendon gliding.

As with any surgery, risks and recovery considerations need to be discussed before deciding to proceed. Potential complications described by the practice include infection, nerve injury, stiffness and recurrence if the sheath is not adequately released.

Does severe locking mean you waited too long?

Not necessarily, but severity can affect the clinical picture.

A finger that has remained stiff for a prolonged period may develop additional limitations. Conversely, mild symptoms may sometimes remain manageable without surgery.

This is why the decision should not be based solely on how long the patient has noticed the problem.

How frequently the finger locks, whether it can still straighten, the degree of pain and how much the condition interferes with normal hand function are more useful questions.

Trigger finger treatment in Montreal

Dr Daniel Durand treats trigger finger as part of his hand surgery practice, with locations in Montreal, Laval and Châteauguay. His practice includes both non-surgical injection therapy and surgical trigger finger decompression.

The appropriate treatment depends on what the finger is actually doing — occasional clicking is different from recurrent locking or a finger that can no longer straighten normally.