Trigger Finger What is a trigger finger?
Trigger finger is a common problem that causes pain and snapping of the tendons in the fingers. The problem that occurs in a patient who has trigger finger is due to the tendons of the fingers, and the sheath in which these tendons live. What are tendons? The tendons in your fingers are like ropes that attach to the ends of your fingers. When your forearm muscle contracts, the tendons pull the fingers into a fist. The tendons run part of their course through a sheath called the flexor tendon sheath. In patients who have a trigger finger, this mechanism of movement is not smooth. What causes trigger finger to happen? The cause of trigger finger is unclear, and can seemingly appear from nowhere. It can occur in one or more fingers, and can occur at different times in different locations. Trigger finger results from a discrepancy between the size of the tendon and the entrance to the tendon sheath. This discrepancy can be the result of localized inflammation or a nodular swelling on the t
