Short-term Versus Long-term Outcomes After Open or Percutaneous Release for Trigger Thumb

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Hand Surgery
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Trigger thumb is a common condition affecting hand function.
• Both open and percutaneous surgical release techniques are utilized for trigger thumb treatment.
• Comparative analysis of short-term and long-term outcomes between these techniques is essential for clinical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the short-term (3 months) and long-term (2 years) outcomes and complications of open versus percutaneous release for trigger thumb.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 126 trigger thumbs in 107 patients treated between 2009 and 2012.
• Data collection included short-term and long-term complications, pain levels, and patient satisfaction.
• Comparison between open release (58 digits) and percutaneous release (68 digits).

Main Results:

• Short-term: Percutaneous release showed significantly less pain (2.9% vs 15.5%) and no scarring, with higher patient satisfaction.
• Long-term: Open release had lower rates of persistent pain (6.9% vs 19.1%) and recurrent triggering (3.4% vs 8.8%).
• While percutaneous release offered better short-term results, open release demonstrated superior long-term outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous release for trigger thumb is a safe procedure with good short-term results.
• Open release may provide more favorable long-term outcomes regarding pain and recurrence.
• The choice of surgical technique should consider the balance between short-term benefits and long-term efficacy.