When a person is unable to bend or straighten their finger or thumb, the common name for the condition is “trigger finger or trigger thumb.”
Trigger finger affects the tendons that flex the fingers and thumb, typically resulting in a sensation of locking or catching when bending and straightening digits. Other symptoms may include pain and stiffness in the fingers and thumb. In severe cases a person may need to use
their other hand to straighten the finger or thumb manually.
The condition is more common the most people think, affecting more than 200,000 people in the United States per year. It is also known as stenosing tenosynovitis.
Causes of Trigger Finger
Several possible conditions contribute to developing trigger finger. People at increased risk include:
Those that have diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.
Those who use their hands and fingers for forced activities (typically work related).
Those who are older (rare in children).
Symptoms often start gradually without a clear injury. They may follow a period of heavy or extensive hand use, especially pinching and grasping activities.
How To Know If You Have Trigger Finger
An orthopedic specialist should be able to diagnose trigger finger with a simple examination. Sometimes x-rays are recommended but are not necessary.
How To Treat Trigger Finger at Home
A doctor will typically recommend resting your hand as the first step in treating trigger finger. They may also recommend splinting the finger at night, so the affected digit is held at a straight position for an extended period. Gentle stretching exercises can also help to decrease stiffness and over-the-counter pain medications can offer some relief of pain and inflammation.
Injections and Surgery for Trigger Finger
If the simple at-home remedies are not providing relief, a doctor will likely recommend steroid injections at the base of the affected digit. These can resolve the issue, but if an injection has been administered with minimal relief, an orthopedic specialist will recommend surgery. When all other less invasive treatments have been unsuccessful, a doctor will recommend surgery. The decision to have surgery is (and should always be) based on how much the condition is impacting a person’s daily life.
An untreated trigger finger can result in permanent stiffness. The common surgical procedure to treat trigger finger is called a trigger finger release. The outpatient procedure makes it easier to bend and straighten your fingers. The surgery involves making an incision in the tissue over the tendon that bends the finger, allowing it to move more freely.
Trigger Finger Surgery
Common complications from surgery include stiffness, swelling and soreness. In some cases, an inability to straighten the involved finger can occur. If a person was not able to straighten their finger completely before surgery, they might not be able to do so afterward.
Most patients can move their finger immediately after surgery. The incision heals within a few weeks but it could take 4-6 months for swelling and stiffness to go away completely.
Most patients who have surgery experience significant improvement in function as well as relief from the pain of a trigger finger. Still, if abnormal shortening or tightening of tissues or loss of motion was present before surgery, complete range of motion may not be fully restored. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Callahan at the Cleveland Shoulder Institute to learn more by calling 844-746-8537.