Finger locking - Trigger Finger

If one of your fingers catches, clicks or briefly locks in a bent position before suddenly straightening, you may be experiencing what doctors call trigger finger. It can be uncomfortable, surprising and, over time, genuinely disruptive to everyday tasks like buttoning a shirt or holding a mug.

What is it?

Trigger finger, known medically as stenosing tenosynovitis, happens when one of the tendons that bends your finger becomes irritated and thickened where it passes through a narrow tunnel of tissue in the palm. The tendon should glide smoothly, but when it swells it can no longer slip easily through this tunnel. Instead, it catches and then pops free, which is what produces the characteristic clicking or locking sensation. The thumb and ring finger are most commonly affected.

Why does it happen?

In many cases there is no single obvious cause. Trigger finger is more common in women, in people in their forties and fifties, and in those who carry out repeated or forceful gripping tasks. It is also more frequent in people with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or an underactive thyroid. Sometimes it appears after a period of unusually heavy hand use, such as gardening or DIY, but it can also develop without any clear reason.

When should I see a hand surgeon?

Mild symptoms often settle with rest and simple measures. However, it is worth seeking specialist assessment if your finger is locking frequently, if you have to use your other hand to straighten it, if there is significant pain in the palm, or if the symptoms are interfering with work, sleep or hobbies. A finger that becomes stuck in a bent position and will not straighten at all needs prompt attention, as long-standing stiffness can become harder to reverse.

How is it treated?

Treatment depends on how troublesome the symptoms are. Early on, activity modification, a small splint to rest the finger overnight, and anti-inflammatory measures can be very effective. If symptoms persist, a corticosteroid injection into the tendon sheath often calms the inflammation and restores smooth movement, and is successful for many people. If the problem returns or the finger remains stuck, a short day-case operation to release the tight part of the tendon tunnel is a reliable, well-established option with a quick recovery.

If your finger is catching or locking, you do not have to put up with it. To arrange a consultation, please visit londonhandandwristsurgeon.com.