Trigger finger or Trigger Thumb (stenosing tenosynovitis) is a condition where a finger or thumb catches, pops, or locks in a bent position due to inflammation and narrowing of the tendon sheath, typically caused by repetitive gripping or underlying conditions like diabetes. Symptoms include pain, clicking, and stiff locking in the morning, treated with rest, splints, steroid injections, or surgery.
Key Aspects of Trigger Finger.
- Causes: Repetitive gripping, strain, or long-term forceful use of the hand. It is often associated with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and hypothyroidism.
- Symptoms: A popping or clicking sound/sensation, pain, tenderness at the base of the digit (often in the palm), and stiffness that is usually worse in the morning. The finger may lock in a bent position.
- Stages:
- Phase 1: Inflammation causes pain and tenderness at the base of the finger.
- Phase 2: A clicking or popping sensation is felt when moving the finger.
- Phase 3: The finger locks or gets stuck, requiring manual assistance to straighten it.
- Risk Factors: Most common in people aged 40 to 60, especially women. Other risk factors include diabetes (10% of patients), repetitive, high-force hobbies or jobs.
- Treatments:
- Non-Surgical: Rest, activity modification, splinting, and NSAIDs.
- Injections: Steroid injections into the tendon sheath are highly effective, curing the issue about two-thirds of the time.
- Surgery: A quick, often outpatient, procedure (trigger finger release) to cut the tendon sheath (A1 pulley) and allow the tendon to glide freely.
What happens to the finger?
The finger or thumb develops a nodule or swelling in the flexor tendon. This inflamed tendon cannot glide smoothly through the pulley sheath, causing it to catch. It is most common in the ring finger and thumb. Surgery and treatment for finger and thumb pain or triggering is available near Gurukul road, thaltej, memnagar, vastrapur, by senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Hardik Shah at shreeji orthopaedic and ent hospital.
The finger or thumb develops a nodule or swelling in the flexor tendon. This inflamed tendon cannot glide smoothly through the pulley sheath, causing it to catch. It is most common in the ring finger and thumb. Surgery and treatment for finger and thumb pain or triggering is available near Gurukul road, thaltej, memnagar, vastrapur, by senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Hardik Shah at shreeji orthopaedic and ent hospital.
