Our five-year old daughter just had surgery last week to release a trigger thumb. The doctor says everything went very well and she’s doing fine. What should we look for in the future to suggest there might be a problem developing?

In the next few days to weeks infection is always possible. No doubt your doctor or the nurse gave you some instructions about what to watch for: fever, pain, swelling, and redness.

In the next few weeks to months keep an eye on any signs of partial triggering recurring. Make sure you and/or your daughter stretch the thumb out many times throughout the day. This is especially important if she is busy in school. Teach her to sit with her hand flat on her desk and the thumb gently pulled down. Her index finger and thumb should form the letter ‘L’ (it will be a backwards ‘L’ if it’s her right hand and thumb).

To maintain full motion in both directions (flexion and extension), she can open and close her fist several times each hour. As time goes by she will stop doing the exercises. That’s okay if she still has her full motion and no sign of triggering.

Every once in a while ask your daughter is she is having any numbness, pain, or pins and needles sensation in her thumb. This may be a sign of nerve damage. Make an appointment with the surgeon if this happens or if you see any signs that she doesn’t have full motion.