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Kids Health Info

Trigger finger

  • Pain control

    Take medications as required for pain (paracetamol and ibuprofen are available from pharmacies without prescription). Local anaesthetic is injected into the area at the time of surgery; this should wear off within 24 hours and an increase in pain may occur when the local anaesthetic ceases to have effect.

    Dressings

    Keep dressings clean, dry and intact until second review appointment. Keep the limb elevated in a sling while your child is awake to reduce pain and swelling and encourage faster healing. The sling can be taken off at night and the hand elevated on pillows.

    Medical attention

    Seek medical attention in the event of:

    • Increasing pain or pain not relieved by medication
    • Persistent fever
    • General unwellness
    • Colour changes (white, blue, purple) to the fingers or thumb
    • Wound discharge or increasing redness

    Follow-up

    Your first review appointment will be approximately one week after discharge for dressing/wound check. The second review appointment will be in approximately two weeks for removal of dressings. The third review appointment will be approximately two months after surgery. Your follow-up appointments will be at one of the following:

    • Plastic Surgery Outpatients (Registrar Clinic), Blue Desk, Ground Floor, The Royal Children's Hospital (morning appointment)
    • Consultant Clinic 
    • Consultant Private Rooms 
    • Local doctor

    If you are unable to keep your appointment please call to reschedule.

    Contact

    Plastic & Maxillofacial Surgery Office - 9345 5391
    Outpatient appointments - 9345 6180
    Plastic Surgery Resident or Registrar - via switchboard on 9345 5522


    Developed by The Royal Children's Hospital Speech Pathology and Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery departments. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

    Reviewed November 2015.

    Kids Health Info is supported by The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. To donate, visit www.rchfoundation.org.au.


Disclaimer

This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.