What is trigger finger or trigger thumb?

Trigger finger is a problem with the tendons in your finger which can result in a range of symptoms. You may just have pain when you move your finger, or tenderness at the base of your finger. This eventually progresses to the locking of your finger. Your finger may lock when it is bent or straight. It most commonly occurs in the middle or ring fingers, but any digit can be involved.

What Causes It?

Trigger finger in adults is caused by thickening of the tunnel that tendons pass through on the way to the tip of your finger. The tendon "catches" on the sheath which causes the "locking". Triggering is often worse earlier in the day, but can occur at any time.

Who Gets Trigger Finger and Trigger Thumb?

Anyone can suffer from trigger finger, although people with rheumatoid arthritis, gout, diabetes, and amyloidosis are more commonly affected. Women are affected 2 to 6 times more often than men. Children may be born with trigger thumb, sometimes in both hands. The diagnosis in children and infants is often not made until they are a year old.

How Is It Diagnosed?

Your doctor can diagnose trigger finger by examining your ability to move your fingers, and by feeling for swelling along your tendons. X-rays are not usually needed in the diagnosis of trigger finger, since tendons cannot be seen on X-ray.

How Is It Treated?

As a first line, your doctor may inject steroids and local anesthetic along the affected tendon. This reduces the pain and irritation. In most cases (84%) a shot will allow the finger to regain its full range of motion. The triggering may return, requiring repeated injections, or eventully surgery.

If the trigger finger is severe, or if steroid injections did not work, your doctor may recommend surgery. This method is 97% successful.

Surgery is often delayed in children with trigger thumb, since the condition often resolves on its own. Steroid injections are not recommended for children with trigger thumb.

Less commonly, your doctor may choose to place your hand in a splint for 3 to 9 weeks. This treatment is not as successful as injections or surgery, but can provide at least partial relief in about 2/3 of patients.

What Happens if I Don't Get Treated?

If you decide not to get treated, symptoms can progress and locking may persist.