• +27 (0)21 879 4264
  • info@assicfitness.com
  • My account
  • Cart

  • Home
  • Applications
    • Resting Heart Rate
    • Recovery Heart Rate
    • Fitness
    • Performance Fingerprint
    • Strength and Conditioning
  • Health Professionals
    • Find your Professional
    • Book a Professional
  • Education
    • Know your Body
      • Body profile
      • Cardiac
      • Exercise/Rehab Routines
      • Fitness
      • Fluid Balance
      • Muscle
      • Bone/Tendon/Joint
      • My Surgery
      • Yoga
      • Nutrition
    • Blog
      • Articles
      • Monthly Routines
      • News and Opinion Pieces
    • COVID-19
      • What You Need to Know
      • Overview of COVID-19
      • COVID-19 Map
    • How to Use the Apps
      • Performance Fingerprint
      • COVID-19 Vitals
      • Connecting Professionals
    • Biomarkers
      • COVID-19
      • Infection/Inflammation
      • Endurance
      • Hydration
      • Performance Fatigue
      • Metabolism
      • Muscle Cramps
      • Nutrition
    • Medical
      • Hip
      • Knee
      • Ankle/Foot
      • Shoulder
      • Elbow
      • Wrist/Hand
      • Back
  • Health Calculators
  • About
    • Contributors
      • Become a Contributor
    • Partners
      • Lancet Laboratories
    • Professionals
    • Press
    • Professional Dual View Access Application
  • Contact
✕

Trigger Finger

Categories
  • Hand
  • Joint/Tendon
Tags
  • Hand injury
Hand
Muscles of the Forearm
Muscles of the Forearm
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Trigger Finger
Dorsal view left hand

Dorsal view left hand

Volar view left hand

Volar view left hand

Trigger Finger

The flexor tendon of the hand is responsible for finger flexion. The tendon runs through a tunnel called a tendon sheath in the palm and fingers that allow smooth gliding of the tendon as it flexes and extends. Along the flexor tendon there is a pulley system that maintains the tendon position and keeps it close to the underlying bones.

The A1 pulley may become inflamed and/or thickened thereby restricting smooth gliding of the tendon. Over time the tendon may also become inflamed and develop a small nodule on its surface and when this nodule passes  through the A1 pulley a sensation of catching is experienced. The obstruction may worsen over time and the finger may be locked and require straightening with help from the other hand.

Trigger Finger

Green Classification for Trigger Finger

Green Classifaction
Grade I Hand palm pain & tenderness at A1 pulley
Grade II Digit catching
Grade III Digit locking with passive correction
Grade IV Fixed, locked digit

Injury Mechanism:

  • Repetitive flexion and extension with tenosynovitis/pulley inflammation and thickening

Causes:

  • Repetitive finger movements
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

Risk factors:

  • Diabetes

Presentation:

  • Pain over the palmar aspect of A1 pulley
  • Catching sensation
  • Deformity with locking of finger in flexion

Clinically:

  • Tenderness at A1 pulley
  • Pain with bending and straightening the finger
  • Palpable mass
  • Palpable click
  • Locking of finger

Radiology:

  • Radiological investigations usually not required

Management

Non operative

  • Rest
  • Night splint keeping finger in extension
  • Stretching exercises of the digit
  • NSAIDS
  • Topical local anaesthetic and steroid injection (LASI)

Surgery

Indications:
  • Failed conservative treatment
  • Catching with locking of finger
Surgical fixation options:
  • Release A1 pulley (”tenolysis”): open or percutaneous release
LASI for trigger finger

LASI for trigger finger

Surgery Technique

Surgery

Surgery Trigger Finger Release

Surgery Trigger finger release

Incision: over pulley

Release A1 pulley sheath

Rehabilitation

  • Conservative management: Night splint of finger and stretching exercises
  • Post surgery: wait for soft tissue swelling reduction and hand strengthening exercises
Active wrist ROM after 2 weeks

Active wrist ROM after 2 weeks

Finger adduction strengthening

Finger adduction strengthening

Resisted finger extension

Finger abduction strengthening

Hand squeeze

Hand grip strengthening

Download ASSIC Performance Fingerprint or Strength & Conditioning apps for rehab guideline routines or create own under professional supervision

apple app store  google play store

References

  1. Conservative management of trigger finger: A systematic review. D Lunsford, K Valdas, S Hengy. J Hand Ther. 2019 Apr-Jun;32(2): 212-221.
  2. Current concepts in the management of trigger finger in adults. JA Gil, AM Hresko, AC Weiss. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2020 Aug 1;28(15): e642-650.

Related posts

Ankle
Jun 17, 2022

Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction Syndrome


Read more
Shoulder
Jun 13, 2022

Acromioclavicular Joint Subluxation


Read more
Ankle
Jun 10, 2022

Sever’s Disease


Read more
Hand
Jun 10, 2022

Intersection syndrome


Read more
assic fitness and health white logo

ASSIC is a pioneering technology based Sports Science Company designing tools to assist in personal fitness management for individuals and professional athletes.

Education

  • Home
  • Applications
  • Health Professionals
  • Education
  • Health Calculators
  • About
  • Contact

Our Applications

  • Resting Heart Rate
  • Recovery Heart Rate
  • Fitness
  • Strength and Conditioning
  • Performance Fingerprint
  • Medical Examination

Download our Applications

apple app store
google play store
© 2022 ASSIC Medical (PTY) Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Created and Hosted by: Lava Lamp Lab
0

R0.00

  • My account
  • Cart
✕

Login

Lost your password?

Create an account?

Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!