Trigger Finger Salt Lake City - Trigger Thumb Utah

Trigger finger results from swelling of a flexor tendon of a finger or thumb at the level of the A1 pulley. The pulleys serve to keep the tendon against the bone with flexion of the fingers (think eyelets on a fishing pole keeping the line against the rod). There are five pulleys on the fingers labeled A1-A5, three on the thumb T1-T3. The problem is always at the level of the A1 or T1 pulley (near the end of the palm). Swelling and a nodule on the tendon gets caught and “pops” through the pulley when trying to straighten the finger. With more severe disease this is quite painful and disabling.

Trigger finger is more common than most patients think. It is an extremely easy diagnosis and easy fix. Treatment options include steroid injections for mild disease and surgical release for more severe disease or failure to respond to steroids.