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Trigger
Finger
December
22, 2008 |
Since the 1990’s more
and more Americans have
been developing a
condition known as
trigger finger. Dr.
Dennis Sagini is an
orthopedic hand surgeon
with Lee Memorial Health
System. He says,
“Trigger finger is a
tendonitis which is an
inflammation of a tendon
as well as the sheath
the tendon glides in.
Your finger can end up
getting locked or
clicked or cause
significant pain in the
palm of your hand as
well as dysfunction when
flexing or extending
your finger.” Many
patients have a family
history of the
condition, while others
develop trigger finger
after years of overuse
or injury. “It’s quite
gradual. Initially
people will tend to feel
pain and lose flexion,
some flexion and
extension so they can’t
make a complete fist and
notice a little bit of
stiffness. Eventually
people notice that their
finger is locked down in
the morning and at the
worst stage of the
disease the finger stays
locked,” says Dr. Sagini.
He adds that trigger
finger is one of the
most common conditions
he treats. Most
patients opt to take
anti-inflammatory
medications or receive
steroid injections. “It
decreases the cells that
attack the tendon and
make it swell and allows
for a period of
decreased inflammation
and healing. With one
or two injections 70
percent of people can
get completely better,”
he says. If a person
does not improve after
three rounds of steroid
injections surgery is
usually the best
option. Most surgeries
for trigger finger can
be completed within a
few hours and the
majority of patients can
regain the use of their
hands immediately.
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