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Trigger Finger (Digital Stenosing Tenosynovitis)

Leigh A Romero, CAQSM, MD and Marvin Valencia, DO Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Trigger finger, also known as stenosing flexor tenosynovitis, is disruption of smooth tendon gliding in the fingers/thumb that causes clicking, locking, catching, and pain with flexi...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Clicking, catching, snapping, or locking of a digit during flexion—usually painless initially, then progresses to painful episodes

  • The finger may become locked in the flexed position r...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Goals of treatment are to alleviate pain and to allow smoother movement of the digit

  • Start with conservative interventions such as: oral NSAIDs, activity modification, and spl...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Follow-up is needed only if symptoms persist or if complications develop after surgery

  • Splinting of the affected digit to minimize flexion/extension of the MCP joi...

REFERENCES

1
Lundsford D, Valdes K, Hengy S. Conservative management of trigger finger: a systematic review. J Hand Therapy. 2019;(32):212-221.
2
Giugale JM, Fowler JR. Trigger finger: adult and pediatri...

ADDITIONAL READING

Amirfeyz  R, McNinch  R, Watts  A, et al. Evidence-based management of adult trigger digits. J Hand Surg Eur Vol.  2017;42(5):473–480. [View Abstract on Ov...

CODES

ICD10

  • M65.30 Trigger finger, unspecified finger

  • M65.319 Trigger thumb, unspecified thumb

  • M65.329 Trigger finger, unspecified index finger

  • M65.339 Trigger finger, unspecified middle finger

  • M65.322 Tri...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Trigger finger is the inhibition of smooth tendon gliding due to narrowing around the flexor pulley that causes pain, clicking, catching, and locking.

  • Diagnosis is based on clinical pre...

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