Trigger Finger

Trigger Finger – Painful Condition Affecting Tendons in Hand

Trigger finger is a painful condition which can affect the tendons in the hand and when affected, the finger or the thumb tends to bend towards the palm and the tendon gets stuck clicking or locking the finger. Trigger finger is also known as stenosing tenosynovitis or stenosing tenovaginosis and this condition could affect one or more fingers.

The symptoms could include pain, clicking, stiffness with a small lump in the palm towards the base of the affected finger or thumb which is known as nodule. In the thumb, it is known as trigger thumb. Trigger finger occurs when the tendons in the finger or thumb area gets inflamed. Tendons are the tough bands of tissue which connects the muscles and the bones and the combination of the tendons and muscles in the arm and the hand, bend and straighten the fingers and the thumb.

They enable the bone to move when muscles get contracted. In the hand, the tendons tend to run along the back and front of the bones in the fingers which are attached to the muscles in the forearm. Tendons on the palm area of the hand are held in place by strong bands of tissue or ligaments which are arch shaped over the tendon and it is these ligaments that form a tunnel on the surface of the bone and the tunnel is known as a tendon sheath.

Tendons Glide Easily – Synovium 

The tendons tend to glide easily through the tissues in the body which covers it, due to its lubricating membrane that surround the joint known as synovium. At times the tendon could get inflamed and swollen. When there is a problem with the tendon like a swelling it means that the tendon is unable to slide easily through the sheath and get bunched up forming the nodule due to which it tend to get difficult to bend the affected finger or thumb.

If the tendon is caught in the opening of the sheath, it could click painfully when straightened.When this takes place, bending the finger or a thumb could pull the inflamed tendon through the narrowed tendon sheath or covering, resulting in a pop or snap.

This condition could be caused due to repeated movement or using force on the finger or thumb. Besides this rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and gout could also be the cause of trigger finger. Grasping a power tool with a firm grip for a long period of time could also lead to trigger finger.

Symptoms & Treatment

The first symptoms of trigger finger includes soreness at the base of the finger or the thumb and the most common one is a painful clicking or snapping while bending or straightening the finger. This sensation gets worse on resting the thumb or the finger but loosens with movement while in some cases; the finger or the thumb gets lock in a bent or straight position as the condition progresses and get worse. Straightening with the other hand could be done gently.

Trigger finger is diagnosed on a physical examination done on the hand and fingers. No lab test or x-rays are done to diagnose this condition. Treatment like rest and medication, splinting, Corticosteriod injections to reduce swelling, or surgery on the affected sheath is done which involves releasing the affected sheath to help the tendons to move freely