Likely Condition
Trigger Digit
Gender
No difference
Age range
Usually over 30, occasionally childhood
Hand Dominance
Not affected
Occupation
Not affected
Symptoms
Sticking, locking or "triggering" of the finger in the palm after making a full fist
Releases with a snapping sensation
Physical examination
Typical catching of the finger during flexing (bending) and extending (straightening) of the finger
Investigations
Occasionally associated with diabetes -ask for this to be checked out
Non operative treatment
A corticosteroid injection is effective in 50-80% of cases of trigger digit
Operative treatment
Trigger digit release surgery is performed as a day case operation under local anaesthetic. Small 1cm incision.
Operative time
Approximately 10 minutes
Likely success
Excellent
Complications
Very rare - damage to nerve and blood vessels, infection