What is Trigger Finger? Trigger Finger Disease Treatment

Trigger finger can be successfully treated using different methods such as physical therapy, steroid injection, and open surgery.

What is Trigger Finger?

Trigger finger syndrome can occur in one or more of the fingers. It is a disorder characterized by being stuck. This disease is called trigger finger because this shape of the finger resembles the shape of the finger when pulling the trigger. Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, develops as a result of narrowing of the sheath surrounding the affected finger. This narrowing may occur due to systemic diseases such as diabetes or excessive use of the finger. Trigger finger usually affects middle-aged people. Although rare, development of trigger finger syndrome can be seen in infants. The disease seen in infants usually resolves spontaneously around the age of 3 without the need for treatment.

What Causes Trigger Finger?

Tendons are structures that connect muscle and bone. Each tendon has a sheath, which is a protective layer. Trigger finger disease occurs when the tendon sheath of the affected finger becomes irritated and inflamed. This condition restricts the normal movement of the tendon, leading to a decrease in the range of motion of the involved finger or its inability to move at all. Prolonged inflammation of the sheath; It can restrict movement by causing scarring, thickening and nodule formation in the tendon. There are some risk factors that may predispose to inflammation of the tendon sheath in the trigger finger. These factors can be listed as follows:

• Repetitive Movement: Occupations or hobbies that require constant hand use and repetitive gripping movements may pave the way for trigger finger development.
• Some Diseases: such as diabetes, gout, rheumatoid arthritis some conditions may pose a risk for trigger finger disease.
• Gender: Women are more likely to have trigger finger.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Surgery: As a surgical complication in people who have had surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. trigger finger may develop. This situation is more common especially in the first 6 months.

What are Trigger Finger Symptoms?

Symptoms ranging from mild to severe in patients with trigger finger syndrome s may arise. The symptoms seen in trigger finger syndrome are as follows:

• Stiffness in the fingers, which is more severe especially in the mornings, limitation of movement
• Squeaking when moving the finger, 'click' sound
• At the root of the affected finger tenderness, swelling
• The finger is twisted and locked and suddenly opened
• The finger is constantly bent, not opened in any way

Trigger finger disease, including the thumb It can affect all fingers. More than one finger or both hands may be affected at the same time. The effects of trigger finger disease may become more pronounced in the morning hours or when grasping movements.

Trigger Finger Treatment

The patient's medical history and physical examination may be sufficient to diagnose trigger finger. The doctor can make the diagnosis by examining the limitation of movement in the patient's finger, if any, by looking at the relationship of swelling in the palm with movement. The treatment of trigger finger syndrome may vary according to the severity and duration of the disease. The non-surgical treatment plan of trigger finger includes medical drugs and exercises. Ibuprofen, naproxen group drugs can be used in the treatment of trigger finger. Although these drugs are useful to control the patient's pain with movement, they do not contribute much to the regression of inflammation in the tendon. Trigger finger is one of the diseases that can be successfully treated with physical therapy exercises. In this context, patients should not use the hand with the affected fingers too much. Again, it is recommended not to engage in repetitive gripping movements and not to use vibrating tools for a long time. Although these movements must be done, it is useful to wear protective gloves. In physical therapy exercises, the patient should make the affected finger straight, that is, thrown, to the extent recommended by the doctor. It would be more appropriate to do these movements by slowly opening the finger without forcing the finger too much. Trigger finger splints ensure that the affected finger is protected. This splint is worn on the affected finger of the patient for at least 6 weeks. Keeping the finger extended during this time allows the tendon to relax, relieving trigger finger symptoms.

In cases where a successful treatment cannot be achieved with physical therapy and drugs, more invasive methods can be used. Other methods used in the treatment of trigger finger syndrome are as follows:

• Steroid Injection: Steroid injection helps to reduce inflammation in the tendon sheath and thus to remove the restriction on tendon movement. In the treatment of trigger finger, steroid injection is effective for about 1 year in patients. However, some patients may need more than one injection per year. In patients with diabetes, steroid injection is more ineffective than patients without.
• Percutaneous Release: Another method used in the treatment of trigger finger is percutaneous release. In this method, the patient's hand is anesthetized with local anesthesia. Then, with the help of a needle, the tendon of the affected finger is advanced and the structures that restrict the movement are loosened. Percutaneous release can also be done with the help of ultrasound. Since the route of the needle can be determined more accurately in the procedures performed under ultrasound, the possibility of damage to the surrounding tissues and nerves is reduced.
• Trigger Finger Surgery: Surgical procedure can be applied if successful results cannot be obtained with other treatment methods in patients with advanced trigger finger syndrome. In the surgery, a small incision is made at the root of the affected finger. Through this incision, the tendon sheath is released. As a result, the limitation of motion of the tendon is eliminated.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does the trigger finger go away on its own?

Trigger finger problem, especially seen in young children, can go away on its own. However, as the finger stays in the same position for a long time can lead to more difficult conditions in the future, everyone, young and old, who shows symptoms of trigger finger should consult a doctor. It will be beneficial to follow the treatment or follow-up protocol that the doctor deems appropriate. Even when the finger movement is completely reset, the patient may have difficulty in doing his daily work and adapting to social life.

• What Should Be Considered After Trigger Finger Surgery?

Surgery p It is normal to have hand tenderness during the first 2 weeks after surgery. In this process, behaviors such as good wound care and washing the operation area with warm water and soap will reduce the risk of infection. If the incision area is closed with dissolvable sutures during the surgery, these stitches will dissolve on their own within 3 weeks. In other types of stitches, patients may need to have their stitches removed after about 2 weeks. People who work at a desk job after trigger finger surgery and who do not need to use their hands too much can return to work immediately. However, people who work by hand may need to avoid situations that may force their hands for about 1 month and get a report.

• Which Doctor to Go to for Trigger Finger?

Trigger finger syndrome, orthopedics and traumatology and physical therapy department enters the field. An orthopedist should be consulted for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Since the patient can work with the physical therapy and rehabilitation department during the treatment process, the patient can be referred to this department when necessary.

Trigger finger disease is a serious problem that can prevent the person from doing his daily work. Early diagnosis of the disease can provide successful results with non-surgical treatment methods such as physical therapy and splints. For this reason, it would be beneficial for people who show symptoms of trigger finger syndrome to apply to the nearest health center without wasting time.

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