Dr. Brooks Ficke Discusses Non-Operative Options & 9-Minute Procedures

Are you experiencing a clicking or locking sensation in your finger? You might be dealing with a condition called trigger finger. Dr. Brooks Ficke, a hand specialist at Resurgens Orthopaedics, shares valuable insights on when to seek medical attention and what to expect during treatment.

Understanding Trigger Finger

Trigger finger is a condition where a finger gets stuck in a bent position and then suddenly pops straight. It can be painful and frustrating, especially when it interferes with daily activities like grabbing a glass or writing.

When to See a Doctor

According to Dr. Ficke, you should consider seeing a doctor if:

1. You've tried non-operative treatments without success

2. You're experiencing persistent pain

3. Your finger frequently locks or gets stuck

4. The condition is interfering with your daily activities

Non-Operative Treatment Options

Dr. Ficke emphasizes that many cases of trigger finger can be treated without surgery. "Only a minority of people who I meet with trigger finger end up in the operating room." Two common treatments are:

· Wearing splints at night

· Steroid injections

However, if these non-operative treatments don't provide relief, surgery might be necessary.

Surgery Could Take Less Than 10 Minutes

If surgery is recommended, don't panic! Dr. Ficke explains that trigger finger surgery is often much simpler and less stressful than patients expect, thanks to the wide-awake approach.

"I encourage people to think of treating trigger finger more as a procedure than a surgery," says Dr. Ficke. "Generally, I meet people in the preoperative area, we inject their hand with numbing medicine, let it set in for about 20 minutes and then we go back to the operating room. We usually listen to some music of the patient's choice, and they chat with the nurses while I do my work, which takes about nine minutes."

The Benefits of Wide-Awake Surgery

The wide-awake approach offers several benefits:

· Reduced Risks: "I think the biggest advantage of wide-awake surgery is avoiding the risk and the expense of general anesthesia," Dr. Ficke notes. "Even though for outpatient surgery, anesthesia is very safe, it's not entirely without risk. If we can completely avoid that, then I think we should." Another benefit: patients are allowed to eat on the day of surgery.

· Real-Time Communication: Dr. Ficke highlights a unique advantage: "I can talk to patients, and if they want to, at the end of the surgery, I can even show them their finger moving and their tendon gliding freely. And by having them move their finger, I can make sure that I have completely released it, that there's no more clicking or locking, no more triggering."

· Quick & Minimally Invasive Procedure: The surgery typically takes only about 9 minutes. There's no need for a cast afterward and many patients can drive themselves to and from the surgery.

Recovery and Success Rates

Recovery from trigger finger surgery is generally quick. Dr. Ficke describes the post-operative instructions: "The patient stops by the recovery room to check their vitals and change clothes, and then they head out."

"I want people moving their finger essentially immediately, trying to bend it all the way down, trying to stretch it out straight... I want them using it only for light things, so feeding yourself, holding the fork, getting yourself dressed, maybe holding a pencil or pen during that first three or four days."

He adds, "People are generally very functional within two weeks after trigger finger surgery."

According to the Journal of Hand Surgery, the success rate for trigger finger is over 95%.

An Even Less Invasive Option

For a select few patients, Dr. Ficke offers an even less invasive option called percutaneous release. He describes this procedure:

"For people who have trigger finger of either the middle finger or the ring finger that locks every single time that they make a fist, I can perform a percutaneous release in clinic without any incisions, instead of going to the operating room to get it released."

The entire procedure takes about 60 seconds and patients can even drive themselves home afterwards.

Dr. Ficke shares that patients often react with surprise, "I do my work for about 60 seconds, and then I say, 'Okay, look down and make a fist.' And they do, and they look a little surprised to say, 'Oh, it really worked. It's not locking anymore.'"

Don't Delay Treatment

Many people put off treatment because they fear it will be a big ordeal. However, Dr. Ficke emphasizes that addressing trigger finger can be much simpler and less time-consuming than patients often expect.

"I see a lot of people who have put off getting it treated because they feel like it will be a big ordeal that they don't want to or have time to deal with at the moment," Dr. Ficke shares. "They're usually very happy when I tell them how basic we can make it."

If you're experiencing symptoms of trigger finger, don't let fear or anxiety hold you back from seeking treatment. With modern techniques and experienced specialists like Dr. Ficke, relief may be easier and quicker to achieve than you think.

If you're concerned about trigger finger, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ficke to discuss which options are best for you.