Is surgery necessary for a trigger finger?

Surgery is not always necessary for a trigger finger, according to Mayo Clinic. In milder or less persistent cases, resting the finger, applying ice or heat, wearing a splint, and keeping the finger flexible with gentle exercises are often sufficient treatments for the trigger finger.

For more serious cases, doctors inject steroids into the tendon sheath to relieve inflammation, says Mayo Clinic. Alternatively, they perform a procedure called percutaneous release, which involves moving a needle around in the vicinity of the affected tendon to release the tension in the area. In some situations, the doctor recommends surgery, which involves cutting up the problematic area of the tendon sheath.