Trigger Thumb Release Cost in Egypt 2026 | Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Shaarawi

Quick answer

Trigger thumb release with Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Shaarawi costs 25,000–30,000 EGP, the same category as other tendon releases such as trigger finger and De Quervain’s, while nerve release (carpal tunnel, ulnar nerve) costs 35,000–50,000 EGP. The operation is short (15–30 minutes) through a small incision, usually under local anaesthesia, and light use resumes within days.

✅ Last medically reviewed by Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Shaarawi, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, on 5 October 2026

About your surgeon: Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Shaarawi

Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University.
Visiting Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ohio, USA.
Certificate in complex fractures and trauma, University of Maryland, USA.
He has performed more than 2,543 tendon releases (trigger finger, trigger thumb and De Quervain’s) and more than 4,536 nerve releases (carpal tunnel, ulnar nerve and Guyon’s canal), alongside more than 6,735 targeted injections for hand tendons and nerves.
This includes more than 230 endoscopic carpal tunnel releases, and he has managed more than 1,100 hand cases without surgery.
Rated 4.9 and 5.0 on Google by about 300 patients.

He sees hand patients at his clinics in Nasr City, Mohandeseen and New Cairo (5th Settlement).

Thumb tendon release is one of the most common and satisfying hand operations. Here is what it involves and what it costs, as part of our guide to carpal tunnel release and hand nerve surgery.

What is thumb tendon release?

In trigger thumb, the flexor tendon catches at the A1 pulley at the base of the thumb; in De Quervain’s, two tendons are squeezed in the first dorsal compartment at the wrist. Surgery opens the tight pulley or sheath so the tendon glides freely, without cutting the tendon.

Release of the A1 pulley in trigger thumb or trigger finger surgery — Tendon release divides the tight pulley over the tendon without cutting the tendon — Image: JoJoEMC / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

The operation step by step

Local anaesthetic injection at the base of the thumb.
A small incision (about 1–2 cm).
The pulley or sheath is divided and free tendon gliding is confirmed.
Skin closure and a light dressing; home the same day.

Video: hand tendon release

Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Shaarawi demonstrates hand tendon release (in Arabic).

Hand surgery prices

Procedure	Approximate price
Trigger thumb release	25,000–30,000 EGP
Trigger finger release	25,000–30,000 EGP
De Quervain’s release	25,000–30,000 EGP
Carpal tunnel release	35,000–50,000 EGP
Ulnar nerve release	35,000–50,000 EGP

Table 1: Hand tendon and nerve release prices (2026).

Prices usually cover the operation, local anaesthesia and day-case facilities, and vary with the hospital, the type of anaesthesia and whether one or both hands are treated; the final price is confirmed after examination and nerve studies.

Tendon release versus tendon repair

Many people search for the cost of “cut tendon surgery”. Tendon release is a short operation that frees a healthy but trapped tendon; repair of a cut tendon after an injury is a different operation requiring precise suturing and long rehabilitation, priced after assessment depending on the tendon and the timing of the injury.

Key numbers to know

In a Cochrane review of 14 trials (1,260 patients, about 70% women), triggering returned within 6–12 months in 38.5% after a steroid injection versus only 6.5% after open release (Fiorini et al., Cochrane 2018).
Up to three steroid injections are effective in most patients with trigger finger, and open A1 pulley release remains the benchmark operation when they fail (Gil et al., JAAOS 2020).

Treatment	When we use it	What to expect
Rest and a finger splint	Grade I–II (pain and clicking)	Less pain and catching for some patients
Steroid injection into the tendon sheath	Grades I–III	Effective for many and can be repeated up to three times, but recurrence is higher than after surgery
Tendon release (A1 pulley release)	Failed injections, a locked finger (grade III–IV), or several fingers	A small incision under local anaesthesia; recurrence is rare
Trigger thumb in children	Observation first, then release if the bend persists	Injections are not usually used in children

Table: trigger finger treatment options by grade

At Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Shaarawi’s clinics in Nasr City, Mohandeseen and New Cairo (5th Settlement) we examine the finger or wrist and grade the tendon problem at the same visit, then choose a splint, injection or release according to the grade.

Recovery

Thumb movement starts almost immediately.
Light tasks within days; stitches out at 10–14 days.
Full use within two to four weeks.
Mild tenderness at the scar can last a few weeks.

Frequently asked questions about trigger thumb release cost

How much does trigger thumb release cost?

25,000–30,000 EGP with Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Shaarawi, depending on the hospital and anaesthesia.

How long does the operation take?

Usually 15–30 minutes under local anaesthesia, and you go home the same day.

When can I use my hand after tendon release?

Thumb movement almost immediately, light tasks within days and full return within two to four weeks.

What is the difference between tendon release and tendon repair?

Release frees a healthy trapped tendon; repair sutures a cut tendon after injury and needs longer rehabilitation, with a price set after assessment.

Can trigger thumb come back after surgery?

Very rarely, because surgery divides the pulley or sheath causing the problem.

To have your hand assessed and your nerve tests reviewed, book a consultation, call +20 155 240 4488 or message us on WhatsApp at +20 155 554 7181.

Medically reviewed by Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Shaarawi, Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. This article is general medical education and does not replace an examination or the treatment plan your surgeon sets for you. See our medical disclaimer.

Related hand nerve and tendon guides

Related guides on hand tendons and surgery costs:

Trigger Thumb Release Cost in Egypt (2026): Procedure, Duration and Recovery