Preparing for Trigger Finger Release

Practical information before your local anaesthetic trigger finger or trigger thumb release.

Before you attend

• Tell us about anticoagulants, allergies, recent illness, infection, wounds or important changes in your health.
• Remove rings from the affected hand before attending.
• Please remove nail varnish or artificial nails if practical.
• The operation is normally performed under local anaesthetic, so you would not usually need to fast unless specifically told otherwise.
• Plan your journey home and do not plan to drive yourself immediately after surgery.

On the day

Your identity, the finger or thumb, the side and the planned procedure will be checked. The clinician will review your history, answer questions and make sure it is appropriate to proceed. Local anaesthetic is then used to numb the operative area.