Hand Surgery

Spring Finger, Tendovaginitis Stenosans, Trigger Finger, Thickened Tendons, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome I

Cause / Development

A trigger finger is usually caused by wear and tear. As a result of this wear and tear, the bending tendon of the hand thickens. The tendons of the hand are connected with the bones by so-called ring bands that keep the tendons close to the bone during bending processes. The tendon glides through below the ring band when the finger is bent and stretched. If the tendon in front of the ring band has thickened, crossing the ring band requires more force and occurs in a springing motion.

Symptoms

In the early stages, the patient suffers from pressure and/or motion pain in the bending tendons in the part of the hand surface pointing away from the body. Once the symptoms have fully developed it is significantly harder or impossible to bend the stretched finger. When attempting to bend the finger, the patient feels a blockage. The thickened tendon knot fails to cross the ring band. The application of increased force results in tension the patient can feel. If enough force is applied, the tendon knot crosses the ring band by springing forward and the finger bends all of a sudden. If the finger is subsequently stretched, it can be observed springing back into the stretched position after crossing a barrier. In the severely advanced stage, the affected finger becomes immobile. The shrinking of the joint capsules and the concrescence of the tendons results in the stiffening of the finger.

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