Trigger finger is the common name for flexor stenosing tenosynovitis. This is an inflammation of the flexor tendon sheath, which leads to pain, inflammation, and catching, or even locking, of the involved finger. The ring finger tends to be the most common, followed by the thumb, and is initially treated by activity modification, anti-inflammatories, and often physical therapy, which usually leads to a frustrating failure of treatment. Simple corticosteroid injection tends to resolve the problem in its most early stages. Open surgery often allows for relatively rapid recovery but does require one week of a soft bandage and a significant limitation of activity while that wound heals.
Percutaneous trigger finger release is a newer option, which allows for opening of
the tendon sheath using a simple needle device that will open the tendon sheath, permitting tendon gliding therefore eliminating both catching and the pain.
The procedure is done as an in-office minor procedure under minimal local anesthesia. The PT is able to remove the dressing themselves the very next day and never requires therapy and often times, no surgeon follow-up is even necessary since no incision is involved.
