trigger finger

Trigger finger is a type of stenosing tenosynovitis involving the flexor digitorum superficialis at the level of the A1 pulley. It develops due to repetitive microinjury from frequent flexion-extension movements of the fingers.

Clinical presentation

A patient with trigger finger finds it difficult to straighten or bend the affected finger. The finger transiently gets locked in the flexed position and with a painful snapping sensation goes into extension.

Pathology

Repetitive microtrauma results in thickening of the flexor tendon sheath and tendon, and sometimes the A1 pulley, which leads to stenosing tenosynovitis of the affected flexor tendon.

Radiographic features

Ultrasound

Thickening of the A1 pulley that overlies the metacarpal heads and alteration in echotexture of the flexor tendons that pass through the digital tunnel. There may be synovial sheath effusion around the tendons. The level of thickening can be variable with some authors suggesting the normal value being around 0.5 mm with thickening suggested when the diameter is over 1.1 mm .

Treatment and prognosis

The condition can be conservatively managed with splinting, NSAIDs and local steroid injections along with an alteration in the patient's causative activity or may require a surgical section of the A1 pulley when the pulley is markedly thickened.

Siehe auch:

• A1-Ringband
• Schnellender Daumen

und weiter:

• stenosierende Tendovaginitis