Trigger finger
This rather unpleasant disease can affect all fingers. The symptoms are a painful snapping when bending and stretching the affected finger. The cause is an inflammatory swelling of the flexor tendon. The swollen and thickened tendon can initially not pass through a tunnel-like strap sliding (the band A1 strap, was named long before the telephone company).
The finger remains initially stuck. If a flexion or extension is forced, the tendon thickening is almost torn due to the narrowness, and the finger snaps. Most snapping or flicking is painful.
Treatment principle
The disease is treated primarily by local infiltrations and ointment applications. In case the therapy fails, a simple splitting of the A1 strap is the solution to the problem. The incision is placed as far as possible in the skin folds of the finger, and is only about 1 cm.
Results
The surgery usually leads to instant success, as the obstruction is removed. The hand is able to be used again after 10 days.
A case of an extreme trigger finger
Left: The ring finger was contracted and not able to be stretched even with force.
Right: Immediately after the operation the finger could be stretched easily. At the same surgery also a carpal tunnel syndroma was operated and the patient lost the numbness of her fingers immediately after the procedure.