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Trigger Finger: Not Just for Action Heroes - Saturday, June 19, 2010

This summer's hottest gunslingers may be in the Old West with the movie Jonah Hex and the game Red Dead Redemption, but unfortunately trigger finger is an all too common injury today. Trigger finger is a minor tendon injury to the hand that prevents your finger from extending. Trigger finger results when your flexor tendon abrades against its narrow passage of cartilage, which results in swelling in the tendon. Eventually, this swelling causes it to catch in the passage, preventing the finger from fully extending. Generally, it only catches momentarily, then slips free, but in some cases a person may be unable to extend the fingers at all.

If caught early, trigger finger can be treated nonsurgically. Resting may be enough to allow the swelling to reduce and the finger to move freely. Corticosteroid injections are sometimes used to reduce swelling.

However, more serious cases require surgery to treat. Surgery for trigger finger widens the tunnel around the tendon, allowing it to move more freely. The surgery typically results in minimal discomfort and recovery is typically very quick.

To learn more about surgical treatment for trigger finger or other tendon injuries, please schedule a consultation at The Centre for Working Hands in Elkhart or South Bend.