Trigger Finger

Tigger finger occurs when a thickening in a tendon becomes stuck beneath a tendon pulley in the palm of the hand. Patients may initially note discomfort in the palm of the hand and then may describe a locking, triggering and grinding sensation in the fingers which can be worse at night time. The finger often becomes stuck in a flexed position (like squeezing a trigger) and to straighten the finger again they may have to use the other hand. This could be a rather painful experience.

The triggering can happen at any age. It can be seen in neonates when they are born, especially in the thumb, but it can also happen throughout their lives. It could be related to trauma, repetitive direct pressure, or there could be associations with conditions such as diabetes.