UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Trigger FInger

Keywords: Trigger finger, flexor tendon, locked finger (PubMed Search)

Posted: 8/8/2013 by Brian Corwell, MD (Emailed: 8/10/2013) (Updated: 5/5/2024)
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The flexor tendons of the finger may become thickened and narrowed from chronic inflammation and irritation.

- Causes limitation in range of motion and snapping or locking during flexion

- Can involve any digit but usually the ring and the long finger

CC: pain, "catching" May awake to finger being "locked" with spontaneous resolution during the day

Stenosis occurs at the MCP level

PE: Distal flexor crease tender to palpation and may have a painful nodule

Full finger flexion is sometimes not possible

Tx: NSAIDs and steroid injection in tendon sheath. If this fails - surgical release.