Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 29, 2026
Metacarpal Small Incision for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Published on: April 5, 2024
Incidence and Risk of Trigger Finger Following Carpal Tunnel Release: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study Using a
Meysam Fathi-Choghadeh1, Harrison S Fellheimer2, Matthew C Culkin2
1Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Background:
While an association between carpal tunnel release (CTR) and subsequent trigger finger (TF) has been reported, existing studies have widely varied and often limited sample sizes and follow-ups. This study aimed to determine the risk of new-onset TF following CTR using a large national database.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX US Collaborative Network. Patients with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome were grouped into 2 propensity score-matched cohorts: those who underwent CTR (n = 42 331) and those who did not (n = 42 331). The primary outcome was a new diagnosis of TF at various time intervals up to 5 years. Odds ratios (ORs) and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare risk between cohorts.
Results:
During the 5-year follow-up, patients who underwent CTR had a significantly higher incidence of TF compared with the non-surgical cohort (9.2% vs 3.1%; hazard ratio, 2.56; 95% CI, 2.40-2.72; P < .0001). The risk was most pronounced within the first 6 months postoperatively (CTR 1.9% vs non-CTR 0.4%; OR, 5.38; 95% CI, 4.53-6.39). This elevated risk remained significant at 1 year (OR, 4.41) and persisted at 5 years (OR, 3.18).
Conclusions:
This large-scale analysis demonstrates a significant and sustained association between CTR and the subsequent development of TF, with patients being over 5 times more likely to develop TF in the first 6 months after surgery. These findings underscore the importance of preoperative thorough patient counseling and postoperative awareness for early diagnosis of TF.