Trigger Fingers are a common problem, causing pain in the palm at the base of the finger. This pain is accompanied by popping or clicking (“triggering”) of the finger as it moves. Sometimes, the finger becomes stuck in the flexed or bent position. Pain is increased when the finger is forcibly straightened.

Trigger fingers are caused by inflammation in the tendon sheath, the tunnel through which the tendon slides. This inflammation leads to swelling, creating a narrowing of the tunnel, which squeezes the tendon. This narrowing creates a bulge in the tendon just beyond the area which is squeezed. The bulge in the tendon gets stuck in this narrow area, and when it finally slides through, one senses the pop, pain, and the sudden ability to straighten the finger.

There are several simple measures we use to treat this. We often begin with oral anti-inflammatory medications to decrease the swelling. Injections of anti-inflammatory corticosteroid medication directly into the tendon sheath may also be helpful. In persistent cases, surgical release of the tendon sheath is usually well-tolerated and successful.