New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies 2014. In: Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Orthopedics. Carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar tunnel syndrome, and stenosing tenosynovitis. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier 2015. In: Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, and Rehabilitation. Journal of Hand Surgery (American Volume). Surgical demographics of carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome over 5 years at a single institution. Incidence of trigger digits following carpal tunnel release: A nationwide, population-based retrospective cohort study. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research 2016. Trigger finger (stenosing flexor tenosynovitis). Trigger finger may be a complication associated with surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome surgery, especially during the first six months after surgery. People who have diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk of developing trigger finger. In the 1st century AD, Persius had superstitious female relatives concoct a charm with the 'infamous finger' (digitus infamis) and 'purifying spit' while in the Satyricon, an old woman uses dust, spit and her middle finger to mark the forehead before casting a spell. Occupations and hobbies that involve repetitive hand use and prolonged gripping may increase your risk of trigger finger. In Latin, the middle finger was the digitus impudicus, meaning the 'shameless, indecent or offensive finger'. Risk factorsįactors that put you at risk of developing trigger finger include: Prolonged irritation of the tendon sheath can produce scarring, thickening and the formation of bumps (nodules) in the tendon that impede the tendon's motion even more. This interferes with the normal gliding motion of the tendon through the sheath. Trigger finger occurs when the affected finger's tendon sheath becomes irritated and inflamed.

Each tendon is surrounded by a protective sheath. Tendons are fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone. A bump (nodule) in the tendon also may form. Trigger finger generally results from inflammation within a tendon sheath, restricting tendon motion.

Why is your thumb not a finger