Trigger finger
What is trigger finger?
Repeatedly applying force to the fingers causes inflammation and pain in the tendons and muscles of the finger from the external stress. It is a condition in which the pulley-like structure supporting the finger tendons thickens through repeated inflammatory reactions from heavy use of the fingers, obstructing the movement of the flexor tendon.
Causes
Repeated use of the fingers causes constant friction in the palm, which irritates the tendon, producing inflammation and pain. It is a very common condition, occurring in adults over 45; usually there is no specific cause, and it tends to be common in patients with diabetes. The exact cause has not yet been identified, but the number of patients has been rising steadily with the recent use of smartphones.
Symptoms
The typical symptom is a clicking sensation, like pulling a trigger, along with tenderness on the volar side of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the finger. As symptoms worsen, stiffness of the finger may develop.
Treatment
Treatment may include drug therapy, stretching and injections; if symptoms are severe, surgical treatment is considered.