Primary ulnar superficial slip resection in complicated trigger finger.

Area of Science:

• Hand surgery
• Orthopedic surgery
• Musculoskeletal disorders

Background:

• Longstanding trigger finger, present for over 6 months, often causes painful extension loss.
• This condition can persist even after A1 pulley release surgery.
• The ulnar superficial slip resection (USSR) was developed to address these persistent issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of primary ulnar superficial slip resection (USSR) for longstanding trigger fingers with painful extension loss.
• To determine if USSR resolves both pain and lack of extension in these complex cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 18 patients with longstanding trigger fingers (≥6 months) and painful extension loss.
• Primary surgical treatment involved ulnar superficial slip resection (USSR) and A1 pulley section.

Main Results:

• Complete resolution of locking and full extension achieved in 100% of patients.
• High patient satisfaction rate of 89% reported.
• Postoperative disability returned to normal levels for most patients.

Conclusions:

• Ulnar superficial slip resection (USSR) is a valuable primary surgical option for complicated trigger finger cases.
• The procedure effectively addresses painful extension loss caused by flexor tendon tendinosis.
• While generally successful, potential limitations include residual flexion loss due to osteoarthritis or cold intolerance.