A Prospective Demographic Study Of Trigger Finger Cases Presenting To A Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Trigger finger is a frequently encountered disorder of the hand in outpatient surgical practice. It results from impaired movement of the flexor tendon through the pulley mechanism and typically presents with pain, clicking, catching, or locking of the affected digit. Although it is commonly seen in routine practice, demographic and clinical patterns may vary across populations.

Aim: To evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients presenting with trigger finger to the Plastic Surgery Outpatient Department over a one-year period.

Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out from January 2025 to December 2025 in the Plastic Surgery Outpatient Department of a tertiary care hospital. Consecutive adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of trigger finger were included. Information regarding age, sex, occupation, hand dominance, digit involved, duration of symptoms, associated comorbidities, clinical severity, and initial treatment advised was recorded and analyzed.

Results: A total of 124 patients with 151 affected digits were included in the study. Women formed the majority of the study population, and most patients were in the 41–60 year age group. The thumb and ring finger were the most commonly involved digits. Diabetes mellitus was the most frequent associated medical condition and showed a significant association with involvement of more than one digit. Most patients presented with moderate clinical severity. Conservative treatment was advised in the majority of cases.

Conclusion: In our outpatient setting, trigger finger was seen predominantly in middle-aged women and was commonly associated with diabetes mellitus. Familiarity with local demographic and clinical patterns may assist in earlier diagnosis, better patient counseling, and more appropriate management planning