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University
Hospital Sharjah introduces
5-minute ‘HAKI Knife’
surgery to remove painful
trigger finger
(Sharjah, UAE) -
As part of its commitment to
bring innovative treatments
to its patients, University
Hospital Sharjah (UHS) has
introduced the ‘HAKI Knife’
technique, a modern
minimally invasive surgery
which takes only five to 10
minutes to free a patient
from trigger finger, a
painful sensation which
comes from the locking of
the muscles of the finger
when bending or
straightening them. The
experience is likened to
pulling the trigger of a
gun, hence the name.
The hand has 27 bones with
finger joints placed between
each bone repeatedly bent
and straightened about
25,000 times throughout
one’s lifetime and are even
more these days due to
excessive use of digital
devices. Lack of care and
proper rest may lead to
trigger finger as repetitive
pressure causes damage to
the inner muscles and
tendons.
Trigger
finger happens when the
muscle tendon which allows
the fingers to bend is not
passing through the pulley,
a fibrous tunnel that
prevents the tendon to
protrude like a bow.
However, due to swelling
developed on the surface,
the tendon could not glide
through the fibrous tunnel,
leading to painful
sensations and immobility of
the fingers, and becomes
even more difficult as the
disease progresses.
Through the ‘HAKI Knife’
technique, a modern
treatment and very simple
procedure which leaves no
scar and very low chances of
complications, patients will
be able to bend their
fingers and perform normal
activities right after the
procedure.
Dr. Seung
Jun Park, consultant surgeon
at the Himchan – UHS Joint
and Spine Center, said:
“Based on our analysis of
170 patients who had
undergone the trigger finger
surgery, the most commonly
affected finger is the
fourth one of the ring
finger, followed by the
middle one and the thumb.
However, after undergoing
the ‘hake knife’ technique,
more than 95 per cent of
patients were very satisfied
of the procedure as they can
immediately feel the smooth
movements of their fingers
without any pain or locking
sensation. It is also very
rare that recurrences happen
or any side effect.”
Using a specially designed
knife called HAKI, the
finger’s pulley will be cut
with a small needle attached
to this bent instrument in a
hooked needle shape. A local
anesthesia will be applied
while the procedure takes
only five to 10 minutes.
However, for severe
conditions or recurrence, a
one-centimeter incision will
be done while the patient is
under sedation. The surgery
takes about 10 minutes to
complete.
Dr. Ali
Obaid Al Ali, UHS Chief
Executive Officer and Member
of the Board of Trustees,
highlighted: “The latest
innovative treatment at
Himchan-UHS Joint and Spine
Center is part of our
continuous investment to
upgrading the healthcare
systems in Sharjah and the
UAE in collaboration with
Himchan Hospital. Patients
can avail the highest
standards of orthopedic
subspecialties such as hand
and foot surgery at UHS
using the most modern and
minimally invasive
procedures, today’s leading
trends in surgery which is
safer and more
cost-effective.”
Most
of the common patients for
trigger finger are
housewives, chefs, drivers,
and players of various
sports such as golf and
tennis as the most common,
especially beginners. In
some cases, children also
can have the disease as it
is hereditary rather than
from external shocks. It is
also usually occurring among
women due to aging and
hormonal changes.
For
early stages, treatment
given are usually cold
compress and simple
non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs,
however steroidal injections
are also given can be given
1-2 times if there is a
difficulty in straightening
the finger right after
bending with clicking
sensation and sound. If
symptoms persist, a HAKI
Knife treatment is then
recommended.
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