Trigger finger and trigger thumb

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Trigger finger and trigger thumb

Trigger finger and trigger thumb are conditions in which a person finds it difficult to bend or straighten the finger or thumb. It can feel as if the finger or thumb is stuck or catches, snaps, or clicks when the person tries to move it.

A person may also feel tenderness or a bump in the palm of the hand around the affected finger or thumb. The bump may seem to move as the person bends or straightens the finger or thumb.

Trigger finger or trigger thumb can develop when the flexor tendon and its sheath thickens or swells. The flexor tendon helps a finger or thumb to bend; its sheath is the tunnel-like opening that the tendon normally glides through.

The exact cause of trigger finger and trigger thumb is not known. The conditions are more common in people who have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or a history of repeated injury to the area.

A doctor can usually diagnose the problem from a description of the symptoms and by examining the finger or thumb. X-rays or other tests are not usually needed.

Initial treatment for trigger finger or trigger thumb includes resting the affected hand, taking anti-inflammatory medication, wearing a splint, and possibly taking a shot of cortisone. Surgery may be recommended if other treatments fail.

Credits

Last updated:	November 13, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer