Q: I am a 77-year-old right-handed female and have developed a trigger finger in the middle finger of my left hand. At times it will lock in a down position and I manually pull it up but it seems to be getting worse. Please provide information on this subject.

A: A trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, occurs when any digit on your hand gets stuck in a bent position and straightens with a pop such as occurs with the trigger on a gun. It is more common in women than in men and in individuals with diabetes and most frequently involves the dominant hand. Oddly enough, you indicate you are right handed and the trigger finger is on the left, which is just opposite of what commonly occurs. Trigger finger occurs because of a narrowing of the sheath that surrounds the tendon of the affected finger or fingers. [Read more…]

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have a trigger finger. Three times the doctor has injected it to resolve the problem. He tells me there will be no more injections and that I must have surgery. Is there another solution? If not, can you detail the surgery for me? Thank you.

DEAR READER: When a finger or thumb catches in a bent position and will straighten only with a popping or snapping similar to the trigger on a gun being pulled and released, the condition is referred to as trigger finger, medically referred to as stenosing tenosynovitis. The condition commonly occurs in the dominant hand, although both hands might be involved. When the condition becomes severe, the finger may remain locked in the bent position.
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