Open versus percutaneous release for the treatment of trigger thumb

The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the outcomes and complications of conventional open surgical release and percutaneous needle release in the treatment of trigger thumb. The study comprised 87 patients with trigger thumb who were treated with either open pulley (n=52) or percutaneous (n=32) release between 2008 and 2011. All patients were reevaluated at a mean follow-up of 22.7±9.6 months (range, 9-44 months). Main outcome measures were the rate of recurrence, pain on movement or tenderness over the pulley, infection rate, digital nerve injury, tendon bowstringing, joint stiffness or loss of thumb range of motion, and patient satisfaction. The groups were statistically similar regarding age, sex, laterality, dominant side involvement, and trigger thumb grade on initial admission. At final follow-up, no patient had recurrence, tendon bowstringing, joint stiffness, or loss of thumb range of motion. No patients in the open pulley release group and 2 (5.7%) patients in the percutaneous release group had a digital nerve injury (P=.159). No statistical difference was found in the infection rate between groups (P=.354). A total of 98.1% of patients in the open pulley release group and 97.1% of patients in the percutaneous release group were satisfied with treatment (P=.646). Both techniques resulted in similar therapeutic efficacy, and the rate of potential complications was also statistically similar in each group. Although statistically insignificant, the authors believe that the 5.7% rate of iatrogenic digital nerve injury seen in the percutaneous release group is clinically significant and serious. Therefore, they advocate using open surgical release of trigger thumb.