Symptoms
The finger clicks or catches as it bends, and in more established cases it locks down so that it has to be straightened with the other hand. There is often tenderness or a small lump in the palm at the base of the affected finger, and symptoms are frequently worst first thing in the morning.
Treatment without surgery
A steroid injection beside the tendon settles the majority of trigger fingers, and is usually the first treatment offered. Some people need a second injection. Splinting can help milder cases.
Surgery
If injections do not last, trigger finger release is a brief operation under local anaesthetic to open the mouth of the tendon tunnel. The triggering stops immediately and recurrence after surgery is rare.
Recovery
The hand can be used gently straight away, keeping the wound clean and dry until it has healed. Most people are back to normal activities within two to three weeks.
This page is general information, not personal medical advice. The British Society for Surgery of the Hand also publishes helpful patient guides. For advice about your own hand, book an assessment.