Newbie here. I had trigger finger release surgery in July and the contracture of my finger seems to be worsening now instead of getting better. I have a strong family history of DC. My surgeon thought the contracture of my finger was due to a longstanding trigger finger which I finally decided to have surgery on after unsuccessful cortisone injections. I am worried about what might be going on as I am a musician and it is my dominant hand. I know the surgery could trigger the DC but would it do so this quickly? I think I probably need to go back to my surgeon but have been hoping to give the trigger finger surgery more time to heal. Does anyone else have any experience with this?

Thank you for your response spanishbuddha. Contracture of the finger can be a result of longstanding trigger finger, which is exactly what I had. I put off having the surgery for more than 10 years because it is on my dominant hand and I didn't have time to deal with the recovery period. I was unable to straighten my finger out and it was getting worse and causing more pain so I finally had the surgery but it hasn't fixed the contracture. I have no qualms about the skill of my surgeon as he is well known in my area and is very experienced. My finger is no longer triggering but my finger has not straightened out like the surgeon said it should and is actually getting worse (it is pulling in toward my palm). In addition there is a hard lump forming under the surgery scar and the scar is hypersensitive. Needless to say I am very disappointed and just don't want to address this further even though I know I will have to. The timing is now bad as my orchestra season is starting up next week and I was hoping to avoid any down time by having the surgery over the summer. I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar situation and if it finally got resolved.

Hi Bigred, I am sorry to hear you are also having problems following trigger finger surgery. I wish you luck in getting your continuing problems solved.

I have decided I can't let mine continue as it is and have scheduled an appointment with the surgeon who did my trigger finger surgery for tomorrow. If I don't get any satisfaction from him I have gotten the name of the chief hand surgeon at a local hospital and I will get a second opinion if necessary. Unfortunately mine is on my dominant hand so it is constantly awkward and painful. I think what worries me the most is that I have triggered the Dupytrens disease by having what should have been a simple and quick trigger finger surgery. My mother had DD and I have a brother and a sister with it. I am also in my 60's which is prime time for developing DD. Unfortunately I was not aware that trigger finger surgery could trigger DD before I went ahead with my surgery.

I hope things will start to improve for you soon. If you don't get any satisfactory answers from the doctor you are seeing you should consider getting a second opinion also.

Hi again Bigred, My appointment with the surgeon went well. He did not seem surprised that I was still having a problem and was glad I told him about the family history of DD. He said there is no sign of it in my palm at this time but that it could still develop from the surgery as it can take a few months. He said something about a tendon in my finger being "lazy", I'm not sure what he meant by this but he prescribed physical therapy 3 times a week for a month, I'm hoping the therapist can offer an explanation as to what might be going on. I am wondering if I might have a lot of scar tissue on the tendon from multiple cortisone injections. He also reiterated something he told me before the surgery that he may have to remove part of a tendon in my finger. Yikes, I hope that doesn't happen but I will get a second opinion before agreeing to anything like that. I'm hoping the pt will help. I will see the surgeon again in a month.

Keep in touch Bidred, I hope you find some answers for your continuing problems. Perhaps another opinion from another surgeon could shed some light.

rsdcellist:

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Update on trigger finger and DD. I have seen a new orthopedic surgeon and been given a diagnosis of intrinsic muscle tightness as the reason for the continued stiffness of my finger. After 3 months of occupational therapy my finger is still painful and unable to straighten out. He has now suggested surgery as an option. The problem is that in the last 2 months I have had Dupytrens nodules appear in the palm of my hand near the trigger finger surgery incision. The new ortho confirmed on Monday that the surgery had activated DD since I have a family history of it. This complicates the decision on whether or not to have the intrinsic muscle release since another palmar incision could further the development of DD. He did say he could do it from the dorsal side to avoid aggravating the DD, but he would not commit to actually doing it that way. Has anyone else out there had a problem with intrinsic muscle tightness? Apparently intrinsic muscle release is not a common surgery. I am not being given very much information about any of this from this surgeon and that makes me uncomfortable. I just don't know what to do. Now wondering if I should seek a 3rd opinion. And how to go about finding someone who is also very familiar with DD. Any information would be greatly appreciated.