Trigger finger is a condition in which it is difficult to straighten a finger (or fingers) once bent. The medical term for trigger finger is stenosing tenosynovitis.
Trigger finger results from inflammation or swelling of the fibrous sheath that encloses the tendons. A tendon is a band of strong fibrous tissue that connects a muscle to a bone. The straightening mechanism hesitates for a few moments before the tendon suddenly overcomes the resistance. The finger then straightens with a sudden jerk or triggering motion.
Symptoms of a trigger finger include:
Your doctor will review your symptoms with you and examine your hand and fingers. An x-ray will be ordered to evaluate the bones of your hand and fingers.
Your symptoms may be relieved with use of ice and anti-inflammatory medications. Your doctor may recommend a cortisone injection to reduce the inflammation of the tendon sheath.
Information obtained from The Sports Medicine Patient Advisor by Pierre Rouzier, MD