What is trigger finger?
Trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis) causes the joint to catch when you try to move your finger. The affected finger can stay locked in a bent position.
Trigger finger is most likely to affect your ring finger, although it can be a problem in your other fingers too. Trigger thumb is also quite common.
What causes trigger finger?
Trigger finger is caused by an issue with the flexor tendons in your hand. These tendons attach your arm muscles to your hand bones, enabling you to bend your fingers.
The flexor tendons pass through a tunnel of connective tissue called a sheath in your palm. The sheath contains strips of tissue (pulleys) that keep your tendons close to the finger bones. Trigger finger develops if you damage the A1 pulley at the base of your finger.
Sometimes, it’s not clear why trigger finger happens. However, it’s more likely to affect people with chronic conditions like arthritis and diabetes. Strains and overuse injuries of the hand can also cause trigger finger.
How is trigger finger treated?
Your doctor at Hudson Valley Bone & Joint Surgeons is likely to begin treating your trigger finger with nonsurgical approaches. These can include:
- Rest and activity changes
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Using a splint at night
- Gentle stretching exercises
- Steroid injections
- PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections
- Stem cell therapy injections
These nonoperative treatments are often effective in relieving trigger finger, especially in less advanced cases. But if you’re not benefitting from them, you’ll probably need surgery.
What does trigger finger surgery involve?
Surgery for trigger finger is called trigger finger release or tenolysis. The procedure frees the A1 pulley that’s interfering with your flexor tendon. The Hudson Valley Bone & Joint Surgeons team does tenolysis as an outpatient procedure under a local anesthetic.
Your surgeon will make an incision in your palm or use the point of a needle to separate the A1 pulley. This enables the flexor tendon to slide through its sheath more easily.
Although it sounds drastic to be dividing connective tissues like this, trigger finger release doesn’t affect your ability to use your finger.
If your finger or thumb is stiff or unbending, you could be suffering from trigger finger. To find out for sure and get expert treatment, call Hudson Valley Bone & Joint Surgeons, LLP today or book an appointment online.
