Dr. Donohue: Trigger finger is an inflammation of tendon

Syndicated Columnist
Published Thursday, July 07, 2005


ANSWER: Trigger finger is an inflammation of a finger tendon. It can happen to any finger. The cause is overuse or trauma, or it can come from conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or an underactive thyroid gland. Quite often, no cause is found. It's something that just happens.

Along with the inflamed tendon or tendons, nodules form. The nodules obstruct the free movement of the tendons when the fingers bend. Upon bending the involved finger, a person finds that it clicks, snaps or locks in place. It behaves something like a gun's trigger.

Rest and anti-inflammatory medicines -- ibuprofen is an example -- can sometimes ease the inflammation. Often a splint is used to enforce rest. If those measures don't get rid of the problem, cortisone injections might. For trigger fingers that resist all treatment, surgical release of the sticking tendon and removal of the obstructing nodules are needed.

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