Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
Hand Surgery in Nigeria
The two commonest planned hand operations. A trigger finger, which catches or locks bent, is freed by releasing the tight tunnel its tendon runs through. A ganglion, a jelly-filled lump near a joint or tendon, is removed with its root. Both are day cases under local anaesthetic or an arm block.
Also called: Trigger finger release, Trigger thumb release, Ganglion cyst removal, Ganglion excision
Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
All-in package
From ₦250,000, all-in
Trigger finger or thumb release, one digit
Day case under local anaesthetic.
What the price covers
- Surgeon and theatre
- Local anaesthetic or an arm block
- Dressings, and a splint where needed
What it does not cover
- The first consultation, and any scan
- A steroid injection, which is tried first for most trigger fingers
- Hand therapy after surgery, if stiffness needs it
- Tendon or nerve repair after an injury, and other hand operations, quoted after examination
Related prices
Ganglion removal, wrist or hand
₦300,000
What would change this price
- A ganglion rather than a trigger finger, priced separately above
- More than one finger at the same sitting
- A ganglion that has come back after previous surgery
- A general anaesthetic instead of a local or block
If an HMO is paying, the case needs prior authorisation before admission. Bring your HMO number to the first consultation and the desk will start it. If the plan declines, you are told the cash price before anything is booked.
Who this is for
- A trigger finger still catching or locking after a steroid injection, or one stuck bent
- Trigger finger in someone with diabetes, where injections work less well
- A ganglion that is painful, limits movement or presses on a nerve
- A small, tender ganglion at the base of a finger that catches when gripping
When it is not the right answer
- A trigger finger that has not yet had an injection or splinting, which cures many
- A painless ganglion, many of which go away on their own; hitting it with a book, the old remedy, is not advised
- A finger that will not straighten after an injury, which is a tendon problem needing its own assessment
The pathway, step by step
- 1
Examination₦35,000
Trigger fingers are diagnosed by feel. A ganglion may have an ultrasound to confirm it.
- 2
Injection or watching first
A steroid injection for a trigger finger. Time, for a painless ganglion.
- 3
The operation
Fifteen minutes for a trigger finger, thirty to forty five for a ganglion, under local anaesthetic or an arm block.
- 4
Home the same day
Moving the fingers straight away, with the hand raised.
- 5
Stitches out and review₦25,000
At ten to fourteen days.
Recovery, realistically
Days 1 to 3
Keep the hand raised. Move the fingers from the start, which prevents stiffness.
Week 1 to 2
Light use only. Stitches out at ten to fourteen days.
Week 2 to 6
Grip strength returns. The scar may stay tender for some weeks.
After six weeks
Full use, including heavy grip.
Risks you should be told about
- Stiffness, prevented mostly by early movement
- A tender scar in the palm for some weeks
- Infection
- A ganglion coming back, which happens in a minority, more often at the wrist
- Injury to a small nerve to the finger, rare
Every operation carries risk. A surgeon who lists none is not being straight with you. Yours will go through these with you before you consent.
Questions people ask
Will an injection fix my trigger finger?
In many people, yes, and it is tried first. If the finger keeps catching after one or two injections, the operation is a reliable fix.
Can I use my hand straight away?
For light things, yes, and you should move the fingers from the first day. Heavy grip waits a few weeks.
Why did my ganglion come back?
Ganglia grow from a joint or tendon sheath. Draining one with a needle leaves the root, which is why removal takes the root as well, and why a few still return.
Prices shown are Mezo cash prices in naira and were last checked on 11 October 2026. They are what you would be quoted for the standard case described here. Your final quote follows an examination, because the right operation for you may not be this one.