Trigger finger is a condition that causes your finger or thumb to get stuck in a bent position, in addition to causing pain and stiffness. In cases where the thumb is affected, it’s called a trigger thumb. The condition makes bending and straightening your fingers difficult as it limits your finger’s movement.
If you have trigger fingers/thumbs, you may be experiencing some or all of the following symptoms. The onset of these symptoms is gradual. You may experience mild symptoms, but without treatment they can get much worse over time.
These symptoms are more likely to occur after an extended period of heavy hand use rather than after an injury to the hand. They’re also at their worst right after waking up in the morning as these symptoms are worse after periods of inactivity. Stiffness lessens throughout the day as the fingers and thumbs are used.
It is unclear what the exact root cause of trigger fingers is, but several have been proposed. These include:
Your hands contain tendons which, along with bones and muscles, assist with motion of the fingers. The tendons slide through a tunnel of tissue known as a sheath. When the tendons are irritated & inflamed (swollen), motion through the sheath becomes more and more difficult. This is essentially what causes trigger fingers. This difficulty of the tendons to move easily leads to further inflammation, which further restricts movement.
TMSC conducts surgical treatment of trigger fingers. Following failure of treatment with steroid injections, surgical treatment is the next option. The goal of this surgery—known as “tenolysis” or “trigger finger release”—is to release the A1 pulley which has been blocking tendon movement, allowing the tendon to glide through the tendon sheath more easily. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area during the procedure.
Our surgeons are highly trained and experienced professionals who care deeply about their patients. Rest assured all of our procedures are carried out with the utmost care, precision, regard for aesthetics, and in a safe environment.
Treatment of trigger fingers is covered by OHIP.
