Regain control of your finger and allow you to bend freely without pain or stiffness
Trigger finger, also known as snapping fingers, is a phenomenon that describes a shriveled finger and the inability to extend the finger to a straight position after bending it. This abnormality occurs due to tendon swelling that makes it difficult to bend the fingers and prevents passage through the sheath, the tissue that maintains the tendon’s path.
Although harmless, this irregularity can make your daily life difficult, whether it’s writing, typing, grabbing, or some other activity that involves using your hands.
Often accompanied by a crackling sound at the base of the finger, which is how the phenomenon got its name, a snapping finger in the later stages of development can cause discomfort and pain, which is why it is necessary to seek professional help.
You can recognize snapping fingers by the following symptoms:
Crackling fingers is one of the main symptoms of snapping fingers. Although the crackling sound is often mistaken for finger snapping activity, the difference is that you can recognize the crackling of a trigger finger by the sound coming from the base of the fingers, most often in the palm area.
Swelling of the tendon can be observed by the appearance of a lump on the palm. Over time, the lump can become sensitive and painful to the touch, which is why it is necessary to treat this phenomenon as soon as possible.
Stiffness of the finger, especially in the morning, is one of the main symptoms of a trigger finger.
Short-term spasm of the finger is the next stage of progression of this phenomenon, often accompanied by assisting by returning the finger to the starting position. If there comes a stage of development in which you have to manually return the finger to a straight position, the surgical procedure becomes the only effective solution here.
Permanent shriveling is the most difficult stage of trigger finger development, during which the retraction of the finger, despite manual adjustment, is not effective. The tendon and sheath are so swollen in this situation that any attempts to put the finger back become painful.
The symptoms of a snapping finger will develop in the order indicated, starting with a crackling sound, all the way to permanent spasm for which it is necessary to seek professional help as soon as possible.
Trigger finger most commonly affects the thumb, middle finger and ring finger, although it is possible in all fingers. Depending on the activities you are doing, such as grabbing or holding heavy objects, snapping fingers can occur on both hands at the same time.
What are the causes of trigger fingers?
The development of snapping finger disorder is more common in people with certain medical diagnoses, such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.
However, prolonged pressure and tendon wear can cause a snapping finger disorder, regardless of the medical history. Activities such as frequently grabbing or lifting heavy objects can irritate the tendon and cause the formation of thickening and damage.
When it comes to the frequency of disorders by gender, it should be noted that women are more likely to suffer from this disorder, which can be attributed to a weaker construction of muscles and tendons in the palms and fingers.
A snapping finger can be treated surgically, if it is a more serious stage of development, but also without surgery, if it is the initial stage of development, without significant symptoms.
Non-invasive methods of treating snapping fingers include:
In some cases, it is enough to be away for a few days from activities that caused the appearance of a snapping finger, such as lifting and grasping heavy objects, or working with hands for a long time.
Cold compresses can reduce tendon swelling and make it easier to bend the fingers, without stiffness and stuckness.
Your doctor may place a night splint that will return your finger to a straight position. The tendon will be relaxed in this position, and the swelling may decrease over time, making it easier to bend.
Stretching exercises, if you don’t feel pain and discomfort, can help stimulate circulation, which will reduce swelling and make it easier to bend your fingers.
Invasive methods most often include:
Steroid injections can help relax the sheath and bend the fingers without getting stuck and feeling pain. Injection therapy can be repeated, and due to its effectiveness, it is considered one of the most common treatments for the treatment of snapping fingers.
This surgical procedure involves a small incision in the area of the sheath at the base of the finger. By creating an incision, the tendon allows better patency through the sheath, making it easier to bend the finger and without getting stuck.
Snap finger surgery is a routine procedure that, along with steroid injections, is most often performed in polyclinics.
After the local anesthesia begins to work, the doctor makes a small incision at the base of your finger, no larger than 10-15mm. The incision is usually made near the A1 sheath, which prevents the tendon from passing through when bending.
After the incision, the doctor will test the effectiveness of the procedure by moving the finger. If the finger moves without support, the wound is closed with smaller stitches, and the person is then released for home care.
On average, the operation takes between 10 and 15 minutes.
After the surgery, you will be released for home care. In the next two days, you will have to keep your arm elevated, and change the bandages once a day to check if the wound healing is going at a natural pace.
Although you are allowed to return to work 1-2 days after surgery, you can expect a full recovery after 6 weeks.
During this period, it is necessary to avoid intense physical activities that include grasping and holding heavy objects, as well as frequent activities with the hands, such as cutting with a knife, writing or other activities that encourage strong bending of the fingers.
Side effects are rare, although the possibility of infection and opening of the wound should never be ruled out. This is why it is necessary to check the recovery process regularly and inform the doctor in case you notice signs of infection such as pus, swelling, redness or even fever.
Snapping finger disorders no longer have to make your everyday life difficult. With professional surgical treatments and many years of experience as a doctor, trigger finger surgery is considered a routine procedure with a high rate of effectiveness and a quick recovery without side effects.
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