Trigger Finger
Trigger
finger is a painful catching or snapping of the finger or thumb,
occurring as a result of inflammation of a tendon. A tendon is a
cord of tissue that attaches a muscle to the bone of the finger.
The inflammation may result from overuse or repetitive activity, from
an injury to the finger or thumb, or from unknown causes. The
swollen, inflamed area of the tendon no longer slides smoothly in the
tendon sheath, and tends to catch painfully.
The classic symptoms of trigger finger are:
• Catching, snapping, or jumping of the finger or thumb with attempted movement
• Pain in the palm area, usually at the base of the finger or thumb
• Awakening in the morning with the finger "stuck" in a bent position
Treatment
of trigger finger may consist of rest and oral anti-inflammatory
medicine, or injection of cortisone into the tendon sheath.
Persistent
cases of trigger finger or thumb can be treated with surgery to release
the tight tendon sheath. This short procedure is done under local
anesthesia as an outpatient, with a small bandage worn about 10 days.