Trigger finger syndrome: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Snapping finger syndrome The middle finger joint clicks when bent

Stenosing ligamentitis or trigger finger syndrome is a pathology that affects the tendons and ligaments of the fingers. The disease results in the finger being in a fixed, bent state. At the beginning of the disease, the patient is still able to straighten the finger, but this is accompanied by a click. This is why this condition is called “snapping finger.” As the disease progresses, full extension of the finger becomes impossible.

Snapping finger is treated with compresses, baths and rubbing. Regular massages and daily exercise are necessary to treat the disease. In most cases, ligamentitis goes away and mobility can be restored to the finger.

Why does stenosing ligamentitis occur?

Sometimes ligamentitis manifests itself in childhood. Stenosing ligamentitis develops in children aged 1–3 years. In the vast majority of cases, the first (thumb) finger is affected. Why does ligamentitis occur in children? The cause of the development of the pathology is said to be the asynchronous rate of growth and development of the ligamentous-tendon apparatus of the hands.

Often, trigger finger develops in adults, mostly women, between the ages of 40 and 50. Modern medicine cannot give a definitive answer to the question of why this disease develops. There are several main reasons:

Injuries. In adults, stenosing ligamentitis often develops against the background of microtraumas of the muscular system of the hand.
Muscle overstrain, which often occurs at work, also leads to stenosing ligamentitis.
Often triggering finger occurs as a result of an inflammatory process or rheumatism.
In some cases, the cause of the disease is a hereditary predisposition, which determines the structural features of the ligaments and tendons of the hand.

Symptoms of the pathological condition

At the initial stages of the development of the disease, the patient experiences restrictions in the process of flexion and extension of the finger.
A click is heard as you move your finger.
A small convex round formation appears at the base of the finger.
When pressing on the base of the trigger finger, pain occurs.
The trigger finger often swells.
In some cases, the sensitivity of the damaged finger decreases.

Stages of the disease

There are 4 stages of the disease in total. Moreover, the first three stages are reversible. If ligamentite reaches the fourth stage, the change in mobility will become irreversible.

Stage I: A click is heard when the finger is extended.
Stage II. Finger mobility is lost. To straighten it, you need to make some effort.
Stage III. It is impossible to straighten the finger.
Stage IV. Deformation of the joint occurs due to the constantly bent position of the finger.

How to treat stenosing ligamentitis?

Treatment of the disease is carried out with folk remedies using healing compresses and special exercises on the hands. Regular hand massage is useful in this case, as it improves blood supply to the hands. Treatment with folk remedies is long-term and takes several months.

How to cure stenosing ligamentitis with massage?

Massage is an effective adjuvant in the treatment of ligamentitis. Before the massage, it is recommended to take a relaxing hand bath. For the bath, you should use herbal infusions or sea salt (2 teaspoons of salt per 1 liter of water). For the procedure itself, herbal oil is good.

The massage should be done by another person, not the patient himself. There is a certain sequence of actions that must be followed.

The patient and the massage therapist sit opposite each other.
The massage therapist takes the patient’s hand and makes circular movements with his thumbs on the back of the hand. Then, spreading the thumbs in opposite directions, stretches the palm.
The masseur moves his fingers to the wrist, holding the hand from the bottom
The massage therapist strokes the patient's wrist in a circular motion.
The masseur clasps the wrist with one hand. The thumb should be under the hand on the outside. The patient's hand should be rested on the elbow, after which the massage therapist should apply gentle pressure on his thumb.
The massage therapist should tilt the hand back as far as possible, but at the same time the patient should not experience any discomfort or pain.
The patient places his hand palm up. The masseur massages the inside of the wrist and palm in a circular motion.
The masseur slowly massages the metacarpal bones, pressing on the hand from above. In this case, the brush should be fixed in the other palm of the massage therapist.
In the same way, you need to massage your fingers. Then you need to grab each finger from the sides and slowly move it from bottom to top.
The patient should spread his fingers apart. The masseur massages the space between the fingers.
The massage therapist finishes the procedure by once again massaging first the fingers and then the entire hand in a circular motion.

It should be remembered that during the massage it is necessary to alternate different types of movement: pressing, stroking, rubbing and kneading.

To cure stenosing ligamentitis, hand gymnastics will help!

Each element of gymnastics for the hands should be performed for 20–30 seconds.

The elbows rest on the table, the palms are raised and the hands are shaken.
Press your palms against each other at chest level and squeeze with zeal. The forearms should be at the same level and form a straight line. Alternately press on each hand with the fingers of the other hand and tilt the hand back.
The fingers continue to touch, and the wrists are slowly spread apart and brought back together.
Hands drop and relax. Shake your hands while raising your arms. The elbows should be relaxed.
Repeat point 2 again, increasing the amplitude of movement of the hands.
The hands continue to be pressed together at chest level, while the fingers are slowly spread and closed.
The elbows rest on the table and rotate the hands clockwise and counterclockwise.
Alternately bend and straighten your fingers.
For massage and gymnastics to be effective, they must be performed regularly. Gymnastic exercises should be performed twice a day, massage can be done daily, or several times a week. For this procedure there is no need to invite a professional massage therapist; you can ask one of your family members or friends.

Warming up

Warming is effective for treating joint diseases (which can cause trigger finger syndrome) and this syndrome itself. This procedure improves blood circulation in the sore hand and promotes rapid normalization of its functioning.

It is best to warm your brushes with dry heat. Table or sea salt is heated in a dry frying pan and wrapped in thick natural fabric. The brush is placed on a hard surface, palm up, and the wrapped salt is placed on top. The compress is kept until it cools down, after which the procedure can be repeated twice more. After warming up, it is useful to stretch the brush or ask someone to massage it.

Paraffin treatment

An effective treatment for problems with joints and ligaments is treatment with paraffin. To do this, buy several candles or the paraffin base itself. It is crushed and melted over low heat. Then the melted paraffin is poured into a wide bowl, which is previously lined with two layers of tracing paper or baking paper, and wait until a thin crust of hardened substance forms on top. After this, the frozen, but still soft and warm paraffin is taken out along with the paper and wrapped around the sore hand. The compress is wrapped with a warm cloth on top. The compress is kept until the paraffin cools down.

What folk remedies will help cure stenosing ligamentitis?

Treatment with folk remedies brings a noticeable effect and does not cause side effects. On the contrary, the use of healing herbal decoctions helps improve the condition of the skin of the hands and nails. Traditional medicine offers baths and compresses that have a relaxing and warming effect.

Elecampane. Brew 6 tsp in 1 liter of boiling water. crushed root of this plant. The roots are simmered over low heat for about 20 minutes, then cooled and filtered. Natural fabric or gauze is moistened in the broth and applied to the sore hand, wrapped in cellophane and a warm cloth on top. The compress should be warm.
Elder. 6 tbsp. l. dried leaves of this plant are brewed in 1 liter of boiling water, left until the solution cools to a comfortable temperature. Add 3 tsp to the infusion. soda The drug is used for compresses or hand baths.
Plantain. Steam 4 tsp in 400 ml of boiling water. plantain seeds, leave for half an hour, then filter and reheat to a comfortable temperature. Add a few drops of calendula oil to the prepared decoction. The drug is used for hand baths.
Seine. Steam 5 tbsp in 1 liter of boiling water. l. hay herbs, boil over low heat for a quarter of an hour, then filter and cool to a comfortable temperature. The decoction is used for baths.
Salt. It is useful to take baths with sea salt. For 1 liter of boiling water take 1 tbsp. l. salt. You can also add a few drops of pine essential oil to such a bath.
Pine. Young branches and pine needles are poured with water in a ratio of 1:3, boiled over low heat for 20 minutes, then filtered and used for compresses or baths.

Treatment with folk remedies can be carried out using homemade ointments and tinctures.

Shepherd's purse. For 200 ml of vodka take 5 tsp. chopped grass. Infuse in glass in a dark, warm place for a week, then filter. The tincture is used for compresses.
. For 200 ml of vodka take 4 tbsp. l. wormwood, infuse in a glass container in a dark, warm place for 5 days, then filter. Used for compresses.
Calendula. Dried calendula flowers are ground into dust and mixed with any baby cream in a 1:1 ratio. The ointment is infused in a warm place for 24 hours.
Sagebrush. 100 g of animal fat (badger, goose, pork) is melted in a water bath and mixed with 50 g of dried wormwood herb, which is pre-ground. The drug is kept in a water bath for 10 minutes, then poured into a glass container and cooled. The ointment is stored in the refrigerator.
Caucasian hellebore. The herb is mixed with honey in a 1:1 ratio. Add 10 ml of vegetable oil and 1 tsp to the mixture. dry mustard. The drug is heated in a water bath, but not brought to a boil, mixed thoroughly and stored in a glass container in the refrigerator. The ointment is applied to the sore hand at night.
Lavender. Lavender color is poured with vegetable oil in a ratio of 1:2, kept in a water bath for an hour and a half, then cooled. The drug is not filtered and stored in glass containers. Lavender oil is good for massage and rubbing.
Essential oils. Add 5 drops of lavender, geranium and clove essential oils to 50 ml of vegetable oil. The oil is used for massage and rubbing.

In general, traditional methods are effective for treating the disease. If stenosing ligamentitis develops in childhood, then the use of massage and baths for the child’s hands is sufficient to prevent the disease from progressing to later stages. The hand continues to develop, the tendons grow, and over time the disease goes away.

If the disease develops in adults, then treatment with traditional methods allows in most cases to achieve healing and restore finger mobility. In severe cases, traditional medicine recommends surgery.

Disease prevention

To prevent the development of the disease in adulthood, it is necessary to reduce the load on the arm and regularly do the exercises and massage described above. It is also important to avoid hypothermia and joint inflammation.

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Thanks to the design of the hand, each person can perform the most complex functions, such as grasping small parts.

As a result of negative factors, this ability may be lost. One of the reasons that can prompt them is the development of stenosing ligamentitis.

General clinical picture

“Snapping finger” is what the common people usually call this disease. It is usually given little importance, despite its danger.

Stenosing ligamentitis is an inflammatory process that affects the ring-shaped muscle of the finger. Thanks to her, he is set in motion. When this tendon is normal, the finger moves freely. In the presence of inflammation, the annular muscle increases in volume and often fuses with the tissues that surround it.

If the disease is too advanced, the finger will soon stop moving altogether.

Causes of the pathological condition

The most common causes of Nott's disease in adults include following:

Inflammation of ligaments and joints, including chronic diseases (polyarthritis, rheumatism, etc.);
Predisposition due to heredity;
The occurrence of overload due to prolonged manual labor;
Congenital structural features of the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the hand.

Stenosing ligamentitis in children is caused by the rapid growth of structures and tissues of individual parts of the hand.

There is a category of people whose risk of developing a similar disease is several times higher. IN risk group includes diseases such as gout, rheumatism, diabetes, arthritis. In this case, it is recommended to be more attentive to your own health, and to begin treatment when the first signs appear.

Symptoms of the disease

Stenotic ligamentitis has very pronounced symptoms. It includes the following list of signs:

At the moment of pressing on the base of the finger that is bothering you, the pain becomes brighter;
Decreased functioning;
The pain in the finger itself is not concentrated and may radiate to the forearm or hand;
A well-felt click that occurs when you try to straighten and bend your finger;
A dense, painful lump appears at the base of the finger.

Diagnostic techniques

The process of diagnosing trigger finger syndrome occurs directly from a doctor. A survey and examination of the finger is usually sufficient. As a rule, tests are not prescribed.

Stages of disease manifestation

The manifestations of this disease can be divided into three stages.

Pain and clicking first stage are still irregular, sometimes pass and do not bother you too often.

As soon as serious efforts are made to straighten the finger, we can say that the disease has developed to second stage.

As a rule, already at this stage the tendon thickens, and a lump forms under the sore finger.

Third stage characterized by the fact that the finger completely loses the ability to move. In any case, you should not wait for the last stage, since only timely treatment helps to get rid of the disease faster.

Treatment procedures

The purpose of the appropriate procedures, of course, depends only on what stage the stenosing ligamentitis is at and what the age of the patient is. When treating stenosing ligamentitis in children, conservative therapy is more often used, while surgery is usually recommended for adults.

Conservative treatment

Most often, conservative treatment is applicable for stenosing ligamentitis. It is usually expressed in the use physiotherapy. Gradually, if the stage of the disease is too advanced or the procedures do not produce results, additional prescriptions are added in the form of special medications.

Mandatory immobilization for a period of at least two weeks. During this period, the hand, as a rule, is completely restored. This happens, of course, not independently, but through the use of different methods. For example, physiotherapy.

Most often, the following are prescribed for stenosing ligamentitis: physiotherapeutic measures:

Electro- and phonophoresis using special preparations;
Applications using paraffin or mud;
Ozokerite.

One of the procedures included in physical therapy - massage - should be excluded altogether. This is necessary so as not to worsen the condition of the inflamed tissues, since absolute rest is important for the hand.

Anti-inflammatory drugs may also be assigned additionally. For example, hydrocortisone, novocaine. All hormonal or non-steroidal drugs Only a doctor can prescribe trigger finger treatment, who, based on research and the characteristics of the body, will select the most suitable ones.

Self-medication in this case is not only not a solution, but also a danger.

During the prescribed treatment period, it is important to completely forget about all stress. No work that involves prolonged strain on the wrist should be performed.

This applies not only to house cleaning, but also to activities that require fine motor skills of the fingers (embroidery, fiddling with small parts, knitting). The speed of treatment will depend on compliance with the principle of complete rest.

Surgical intervention

In many cases, conservative treatment may not produce results at all, or it will simply be short-lived.

In case of relapses, deterioration of the muscle condition, or if the stage of stenosing ligamentitis is very advanced, it is prescribed surgery.

Closed ligamentotomy

The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. There is no incision, just a small puncture. Surgery for stenosing ligamentitis is performed using an eye scalpel.

The annular ligament on the hand is cut, and the depth of the cut will depend on how quickly the snapping of the finger disappears. It is characteristic that after such a simple operation only an aseptic dressing is applied, since the cut is very small.

In total, the duration of the surgical intervention does not exceed 20 minutes.

This method also has several disadvantages:

There is no visual control, which means there is a high chance of damaging something;
Possibility of damage to the flexor tendon;
The likelihood of a hematoma;
Relapses may occur.

Open ligamentotomy

The cut of the palm does not exceed 3 centimeters. The exposure of the annular ligament, inflamed and fused with other tissues, occurs in layers. Next, the ligament is dissected along the lateral surface.

After this, it is important for the surgeon to ensure that the flexor tendon glides freely. Sutures are placed on the wound and the hand is fixed with a plaster cast for several days. All stitches are removed after 2 weeks.

Forecast

After successful treatment, surgical or non-surgical, the functions of the hand are completely restored. This applies to all cases, except those in which complications may have arisen during treatment.

The percentage of relapse after surgical treatment is an order of magnitude lower compared to conservative treatment. Therefore, in some cases, the latter method of exposure is not used at all, and doctors immediately resort to surgery.

Video: Doctor explains why trigger finger syndrome occurs

One of the ailments that can cause severe discomfort to a person and reduce the quality of his life is stenosing ligamentitis.

It is a disease that develops as a result of infectious diseases and injuries. The pathology affects the tendons and ligaments of the upper extremities. Due to the development of the disease, the finger or joint is fixed in a bent state. At the initial stages of the disease, it can still be straightened, but this happens with a characteristic click; there is even a name - the snapping finger, which characterizes the disease. Subsequently, the finger is fixed and does not extend at all, like the joint. This strange syndrome is called Knott's disease, because it was he who first identified a similar phenomenon in 1850. The researcher described a pathological condition in which there was difficulty in bending a finger. Whenever attempts were made to move the thumb or other fingers, a clicking sound was noted.

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The essence of pathology

The human limb contains a huge number of muscles, tendons and nerves. Thanks to their coordinated work, a person can write, hold small things, clench a fist and perform other actions necessary for a full life. The slightest failure in their work leads to loss of performance, and the person becomes disabled. It is for this reason that hand diseases must be approached with particular seriousness.

To date, the disease has been well studied; there is even a certain classification of ligamentitis.

The following types of pathology are distinguished:

stenosing ligamentitis of the annular ligament of the hand;
ligamentitis of the palmar and transverse carpal ligaments;
ligamentitis of the dorsal carpal ligament;
ligamentitis of the knee joint.

All of the above types of disease have their own characteristics and require immediate treatment. Therapy, regardless of the location of ligamentitis, is aimed at restoring the functions of the ligaments and eliminating the inflammatory process in nearby tissues.

It should be noted that women of working age who are exposed to physical activity on their limbs are more likely to suffer from ligamentitis. As a rule, the left hand is most often affected, although cases of damage to both limbs have been reported. The disease rarely begins suddenly, develops gradually, but in any case leads to loss of performance if treatment is not started in a timely manner.

Causes and signs of the disease

The reasons why the fingers click and do not bend have not yet been fully studied. There is an assumption that in adults the disease develops as a result of microtraumas received at production facilities. There is some connection with rheumatism, diabetes, gout and a number of infectious and inflammatory diseases. Some scientists argue that the disease may be hereditary, but this has not yet been fully proven. In children, the disease occurs before the age of 3 years; as a rule, the thumb is affected.

Regardless of where exactly ligamentitis occurs, the symptoms are very similar. A person notices pain in the area of the affected ligament, especially when flexing. Increased sensitivity in the affected area is often noted, and there may be limited mobility in the joint and numbness of the fingers. Swelling is observed over the damaged ligaments, and contractures may appear. In patients with an advanced form of the pathology, there is a loss of sensitivity in the fingers, and the tissue over the diseased tendon acquires a pale, sometimes bluish tint.

Diagnosis and conservative therapy

In diagnosing this disease, visual examination of the affected joint is very informative. A person notices severe pain, for example, if he bends his hand with an injured finger into a fist. On palpation, painful sensations will also be pronounced, and compaction will be noted in the area of inflammation of the tendons. To confirm the diagnosis, ultrasonography or ultrasound examination is required, which will also show thickening of the wall of the first extensor canal or annular ligament.

Sometimes stenotic ligamentitis is combined with cysts on the tendons. Using the above instrumental diagnostic methods, this pathology can be noticed and its recurrence can be prevented by removing the cyst during surgery. The doctor must also conduct a differential diagnosis of ligamentitis with tenosynovitis and ganglia.

If the diagnosis is confirmed, treatment begins using hormonal medications and physiotherapy. Ligamentitis can be treated on an outpatient basis, under the supervision of a doctor. Therapy with hydrocortisone injections into the area of thickening of the ligament is most effective. After the injections, manganese baths are used for a month, and a splint is applied at night.

The doctor must prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs for internal and external use, and immunostimulants. For the treatment of tendon pathology, compresses with a 30% solution of the drug Dimexide with preliminary application of heparin or hydrocortisone ointment, as well as treatment with Furazolidone, are indicated.

Among the physical procedures, electrophoresis with drugs that improve microcirculation, magnetic therapy, and ozokerite have proven themselves to be excellent. Applications with paraffin, iontophoresis, complete rest and immobilization of the limb have a good effect. The latter is needed to reduce the mobility of the joint in which there are affected ligaments. The fixed position of the tissues will speed up their healing. Immobilization is established for at least 2 weeks.

Surgical intervention

If conservative therapy does not produce results, doctors resort to surgery, which involves removing a fragment of the ligament that interferes with the motor activity of the finger or joint. Surgery is performed under anesthesia, the stitches are removed on the 7th day and then the person is discharged home.

The operation is carried out using the following technology:

1. An incision is made in the skin, which also affects the subcutaneous fatty tissue.
2. The edges of the wound are expanded with forceps so that the tip of the styloid process of the radius is in the center of the incision.
3. After this, a thickening of the dorsal part of the ligament is found and it is examined. It will resemble cartilage tissue in color.
4. A solution of novocaine is injected into the affected ligament.
5. A grooved probe is brought in, along which the ligament is crossed, and the edges of the canal immediately diverge.
6. If the operation is performed under local anesthesia, the patient is asked to move his finger to ensure that there are no adhesions.
7. Careful hemostasis is carried out.
8. If cystic formations occur, they are removed.
9. The fascia is sutured over the crossed ligament.
10. The wound is sutured step by step so that the surface of the radial nerve does not get into the suture.
11. The seam is treated with an antiseptic. Apply a fixing bandage.

There is a low-traumatic method of surgery, which is performed in the absence of cysts and extensive inflammation. Instead of an incision, a puncture is made with an eye scalpel. The edges of the wound are expanded with forceps, then an incision is made into the annular ligament. This is done until the clicking of the fingers disappears. After this, the wound, which is usually small in size, is sutured. In general, this type of operation lasts no more than 20 minutes. Hospitalization in this case is not required. After antiseptic treatment of the wound, the person is allowed to go home. I would like to note that after such an intervention, relapses of the disease are 2 times less common than after extensive surgical treatment.

After the operation at home, the patient must keep the limbs immobilized and reduce physical activity, but a month after surgery it is recommended to perform self-massage and do gymnastics.

You can perform gymnastics at home according to the following instructions:

place your elbows on the table and shake your hands;
bring your hands into a prayer position so that your shoulders are in line;
Without lifting your elbows from the table and without spreading your limbs, press in turn with the fingers of one hand on the other;
in the same position, we move our fingers in different directions, but do not separate our wrists from each other;
Without lifting your elbows from the table, perform circular movements with your hands in different directions;
Without lifting our elbows from the table, we play with our fingers on an imaginary pipe.

By repeating such manipulations at least once a day, a person will strengthen the ligaments and avoid relapse of the disease.

At home, you can make paraffin applications, which are approved by doctors. For the procedure, you need to buy paraffin at the pharmacy or take several candles. Prepare a medium-sized container in advance and cover its bottom with tracing paper. Already melted paraffin is poured into the dish. When it sets, as indicated by a characteristic film on the surface, it is removed from the vessel along with tracing paper and applied to the area affected by the disease. Wrap a towel on top and hold until the paraffin cools down.

Traditional methods

Traditional methods of treatment in eliminating such diseases are rarely used, but in vain. Although they are not ways to influence the internal condition of the tendons, they can alleviate the symptoms of the pathology. Compresses and baths for hands and affected joints have worked well.

The crushed elecampane root is boiled over a fire for 5 minutes, cooled, filtered and, after moistening a cotton cloth in it, applied as a compress to the affected limb. To achieve a greater effect, it is recommended to wrap it with a towel or cellophane on top.

A handful of dried elderberry leaves is poured into 1 liter of boiling water and 2 tbsp is added. l. baking soda. The resulting decoction is used to steam the affected limbs or use it as a lotion.

Plantain seeds are poured into 0.5 liters of boiling water and 10 drops of calendula oil are added. After cooling the product to room temperature, hold the sore hand in it for 20 minutes, 2 times a day.

Salt baths for hands with the addition of oil from any coniferous trees have a very good effect.

In the treatment of folk remedies, ointments with tinctures of alcohol can also be used. Wormwood is poured with 1 glass of vodka and left for 24 hours. The resulting tincture is rubbed on the arm or sore joint 3 times daily. You can make an ointment from wormwood. To do this, melt 100 g of pork fat and mix with fresh wormwood. The product is ready immediately after cooling.

Crushed fresh calendula flowers are mixed with baby cream or Vaseline and left for a day in a warm place. Next, apply to the affected hand before going to bed.

The healing properties of propolis have been known for a long time, and it has shown its effectiveness in this case as well, which is explained by its excellent anti-inflammatory properties. For self-massage, it is recommended to use alcohol tincture of propolis. You can prepare it yourself by pouring propolis in 40% alcohol and leaving it in a dark place for 2 weeks, or buy it ready-made at the pharmacy.

To summarize, I would like to note that traditional therapy will give a greater effect in combination with conservative methods; it should not be used as the main treatment. There is no need to engage in self-diagnosis and spontaneously buy medications for yourself. At the first symptoms of the disease, go for a consultation with a traumatologist or rheumatologist. Only he will be able to correctly select medications and quickly eliminate the pathology.

As a preventive measure, people can be advised to strictly regulate manual labor. If, when performing physical work with your hands, tension occurs in your fingers or hand, it is advisable to massage the area in the form of rubbing for 5 minutes to restore blood circulation.

Stenosing ligamentitis is a common disease that affects the annular muscle of the finger and sometimes affects the feet. The inflammatory process during the disease reduces mobility. In some cases, the enlarged muscle may become fused with nearby tissue.

About the disease

In common parlance, stenosing ligamentitis is called “snapping finger.” For the most part, people do not pay attention to the disease because they are unaware of the danger.

Ligamentitis affects the tendon of the hand or foot. This problem occurs not only in adults, but also in children. Inflammatory reactions occurring in the affected tendon reduce the mobility of the fingers or toes. The number of people facing this problem is growing. Of all patients with hand diseases, about 8% suffer from “snapping finger.”

Main types of disease:

Knott's disease. The most common type of problem.
. Damage to the long conduction muscle and the short extensor muscle. The disease affects one finger, most often the thumb.

Neglect of treatment leads to complete failure of the finger or toe.

Stenosing ligamentitis is divided into three stages.

Stages of development:

Stage 1. The finger begins to click, and mild pain occurs in the damaged area.
Stage 2: Thickening of the tendon leads to decreased mobility of the finger. Pressure on the damaged area causes pain. There is discomfort in the wrist joint.
Stage 3. The finger remains bent. Only surgery can correct the situation. Surgery is available for children and adults.

It is highly undesirable to start the disease. It is easy to identify a problem, even in the early stages. You should contact a specialist immediately after detecting the first symptoms.

Reasons

Stenosing ligamentitis can be called polyetiological, since the disease occurs due to a host of factors. What influences the development of the disease?

. Deposition of uric acid in the joint and nearby tissues is the background for inflammatory processes.
Diabetes. Leads to inflammation of connective tissues due to the deposition of pathological protein.
Rheumatoid arthritis. The disease leads to.
Stable load on fingers. Ligamentitis most often develops in people who perform repetitive work with their hands.
Heredity.
Atherosclerosis.
Incorrect structure of the annular ligament and tendons.
Injuries.
Infections.

In most cases, trigger toe occurs in the foot. People who work with their hands are especially susceptible to the disease. However, the disease also occurs in children.

At risk are:

Musicians.
Welders.
Jewelers.
Masons.
Dentists.

Ligamentitis leads to thickening of the tendon. This interferes with its movement and makes the annular ligament an obstacle. The disease, which occurs in children, is in most cases congenital, and in adults it is associated with tissue inflammation.

Symptoms

Snapping finger syndrome has distinct symptoms. Diagnosing the disease is not difficult even in the early stages.

The main symptoms of Knott's disease:

Pain near the injured ligament. Appears when moving.
Swelling at the top of the joint.
Increased sensitivity.
Pain in the area of the wrist joint.
Problems bending your finger. Feels like an obstacle.
The finger does not straighten.
Movement of the wrist joint increases pain.
When moving, the fingers click.
Low functionality during operation.
The appearance of swelling.
Painful sensations when pressing on the arm.
Echoes of pain in the shoulder or hand.
Deterioration of joint mobility.

All stages of the disease are accompanied by swelling, which brings discomfort when pressure is applied to it. The tendons also harden. At the last stage of the disease, the phalanx thickens. A patient with the final stage of the disease cannot do without surgery.

Symptoms of De Quervain's disease:

Swelling.
Pain in affected tissues.
The work of the brush does not deteriorate.
The pain comes from the wrist.
Discomfort occurs in the shoulder area and fingertips.

This type of “snapping finger” affects people over 40 years of age. Most often, ligamentitis affects women, among them this pathology is more common.

Diagnostics

Snapping finger syndrome does not require special methods for detection. The doctor orders an x-ray and conducts an examination. An examination is necessary to rule out degenerative joint problems that have similar symptoms. This is necessary for the correct choice of treatment.

Palpation of the hand with Nott's disease helps to detect:

Thickening of the tendon located in the area of the distal fold.
Clicking.
A thickening that moves when you move your finger.

It is important to know that with prolonged absence of movement in the injured finger, all symptoms intensify.

Palpation for Querven's disease helps to detect:

Painful sensations with pressure in the area of the styloid process.
Discomfort when abducting healthy fingers. .

Some symptoms, such as numbness in the fingers, occur in each type of disease, so a specialist must make a diagnosis. Immediately after the disease is detected, you should stop exerting yourself, and then fix the limb with the affected ligaments and joint.

Treatment

Stenosing ligamentitis can be treated using two methods. For the initial stages of the disease, a conservative method is used, and if the disease is advanced, surgical intervention is used.

Stenosing ligamentitis treated conservatively:

Electrophoresis.
Ozokerite.
Phonophoresis.
Applications.
Drugs.

The conservative method, if the disease is not advanced, gives results within a few weeks. During this time, the affected joints, ligaments and muscles of the hand are completely restored. A specialist should draw up a treatment plan. Only a doctor can prescribe medications.

It is important to know that massage is not included in the list of procedures, as it can aggravate the patient’s condition.

During treatment, the patient should avoid any stress, even the simplest. It is necessary to exclude any work, especially related to the brush. This even applies to cleaning or embroidering. The recovery time depends on compliance with this requirement.

Conservative treatment is especially effective for children. More than 70% of patients under 3 years of age make a full recovery.

Surgical intervention

If the conservative method does not provide the desired result, surgery will be required. The surgical method involves dissection of the deformed tendon or annular ligament. The intervention is safe for both adults and children.

Before surgery, during an exacerbation, the patient must follow some recommendations.

Requirements:

Avoid moving the brush. This will increase the chance of injury.
The use of drugs that reduce inflammation and pain. Medicines are prescribed by a doctor.
Tendon injections. Injections are given only by a doctor.

After the inflammatory processes have decreased and the period of exacerbation has passed, surgery is prescribed. Intervention will help avoid relapse, as well as loss of performance.

Children who underwent surgery before 2 years of age have about a 90% chance of a full recovery. Doctors perform the intervention using an open method. It avoids exacerbations and does not damage nerve cells.

Open surgery

Surgical intervention in both adults and children follows the same plan.

Operation stages:

General anesthesia.
Dissection of the ligament around the thickening.
Alignment of fingers.
Treatment of the wound.
Applying a bandage.
Tire installation.

The operation is very simple and has many advantages over other types of treatment.

Advantages:

Low probability of tissue damage.
There is no possibility of injuring blood vessels or nerves.
Decompression incision.
No damage to anatomical relationships.

The brush begins to work fully within a couple of days. Sutures are removed two weeks after surgery.

Closed operation

Surgical intervention in this way lasts only 20 minutes.

Operation plan:

Local anesthesia is used.
A small puncture is made.
The annular ligament is divided.
Fingers straighten.
A bandage is applied.

At first glance, the operation seems quick and simple. However, this method has several significant disadvantages. Therefore, especially for children, it is advisable to use the open method.

Flaws:

Possibility of flexor tendon injury.
Possibility of relapses.
Lack of visual control increases the chance of injury.
The appearance of a hematoma.

You should choose the appropriate method after consulting a doctor.

Alternative Methods

Folk remedies have a positive effect on ligaments, muscles and the wrist joint.

Treatment methods:

Warming up. Heated salt is poured into a bag and applied to the damaged area. It is advisable to repeat the procedure several times a day.
Healing mud. Healing clay is brought to the consistency of sour cream. Then 5 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar are added to the mixture. The paste must be applied to the damaged finger, wrapped and left for about 2 hours. The hand should rest at this time.

Mix six teaspoons of crushed elecampane rhizome with 1 liter of hot water and boil for 20 minutes. Boil the resulting liquid, apply to paper towels, and then apply to the damaged area.
Brew pine and coniferous branches in a ratio of 1:3. Cook for 20 minutes, then strain. Apply a rag moistened with liquid to the sore spot.
Steaming a limb. Pine oil and sea salt are added to a liter of boiling water. You should move your fingers during the steaming process.
Calendula flowers should be crushed and mixed with baby cream in a 1:1 ratio. The resulting ointment is infused for a day in the refrigerator.

Folk remedies are especially effective in the early stages of the disease. Snapping finger responds well to alternative treatments. Since folk remedies have no contraindications and are suitable even for children.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics can help relieve pain in the wrist joint, ligaments, and muscles of the hand.

Exercises:

Elbows rest on the table, palms facing up. Shaking movements are made with the brush.
Playing an imaginary flute.
Elbow on the table. Rotations are performed with a brush.
Hands at chest level, palms folded together. Alternately apply pressure with the fingers of one limb to the other.
The position is similar. The wrists are spread apart, the fingertips do not separate from each other.

Exercises are effective in the early stages of the disease.

Prevention

Detecting the snap finger is easy. Therefore, if you suspect a disease (), in adults or children, you should immediately reduce the load on the hand. Compresses and light massage will also help. You should not self-medicate; you should immediately consult a specialist.

You should not neglect folk remedies that help with tendon inflammation. It is quite possible to cure trigger finger, especially at an early age.

Snapping finger is a hand disease in which the finger gets stuck in a bent position. This limits the performance of the hand and causes pain to the person.

If other treatment methods have not been successful or the condition of the hand remains severe, surgery can usually restore the mobility of the affected area of the hand.

Recovery from surgery to eliminate trigger finger disease usually does not take much time, and the surgery itself usually has a high chance of success.

Contents of the article:

What is a trigger finger?

Snapping finger is a painful condition in which the fingers freeze in a certain position. Usually in a curved or "crooked"

Snapping finger or stenosing tenosynovitis (tenosynovitis) is a disease in which the finger remains in a constant position in one or more joints. A person usually has difficulty moving this finger or using it during daily living activities. This disease also causes discomfort and pain.

The disease can affect any finger, including the thumb. In addition, it can affect one finger or more.

Tendons connect bones and muscles, allowing them to move. The tendons are protected by a special coating, which is commonly called a sheath. When the tendon sheath becomes inflamed, movement of the area of the body where the inflammation occurs may be difficult. Sometimes this results in a snapping finger.

Symptoms of trigger finger

Symptoms of trigger finger include:

pain in the lower part of the finger when trying to move or when pressing;
a hard clicking sound when moving a finger;
as the condition worsens, the finger may curl and freeze in this position, and then suddenly straighten;
loss of the ability to bend or straighten the affected finger;

The condition in question can affect any finger on the hand, but usually affects the ring finger, thumb and little finger.

Types of surgeries for trigger finger

There are three types of surgical procedures that can help resolve the problem of trigger finger.

Open surgery

The surgeon makes a small incision in the palm of the hand and then cuts the tendon sheath to give the tendon more room to move. The surgeon then stitches the wound. Usually the patient is under local anesthesia at this moment and does not feel any pain.

Percutaneous (percutaneous) surgery

This type of surgery is also performed under local anesthesia. The surgeon inserts a needle into the bottom of the finger to cut the tendon sheath. After such operations, no wounds remain.

Excision of the synovial tendon sheath

Doctors recommend using this procedure only if the first two options are not suitable, for example, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Excision of the tendon sheath involves removing part of the tendon sheath and allowing the finger to regain free movement.

Experts usually recommend open surgery because they are associated with the lowest risks of complications. There is a small chance that blood vessels or nerves located in close proximity to the tendon sheath will be damaged during percutaneous surgery. However, percutaneous surgery has the advantages of leaving no scars and being more cost effective. A small study conducted in 2016 found that people who had open and percutaneous surgery had similar long-term benefits. The operation usually lasts about twenty minutes, and patients do not need to stay in the hospital after such procedures. During percutaneous and open operations, the patient remains awake, but does not feel any pain.

Recovery and care for the convalescent

Fresh dressings should be applied to the finger for several days after surgery

Initially, the operation may cause minor pain. To relieve them, the doctor must recommend painkillers, which are sold in pharmacies without a prescription.

Immediately after surgery, the patient should be able to freely move all fingers of the affected hand. However, you should not rush to put pressure on your sore finger.- Full functionality will return to it in one or two weeks.

The patient should wear bandages for the first few days after open surgery. After removing the last bandage, ensure the wound is clean. by using mild soap and water.

If a person has stitches, the doctor should remove them two or three weeks after surgery. Absorbable surgical sutures will dissolve within three weeks.

The patient should ask their doctor when they can resume daily physical activity, such as driving or using a computer. A longer recovery period may be required for people who have had two or more trigger fingers operated on.

Some people are prescribed special exercises or additional therapy to restore full mobility to the affected finger.

Who needs trigger finger surgery?

If left untreated, the trigger finger may become stuck in one position regularly. When the sore finger bends and remains in this position, it becomes difficult for a person to carry out his daily tasks.

However, in most cases, trigger finger can be successfully treated without surgery.

Non-surgical treatment options include:

stretching and applying a splint to immobilize;
taking anti-inflammatory drugs;
injecting steroids into the base of the finger to reduce swelling;
reducing or temporarily stopping the activity that causes pain.

If these treatments do not help, surgery may be required. Before making a decision regarding surgery, the attending physician considers three points:

How much pain the patient is experiencing;
How seriously the disease affects his daily activities;
How long has the patient been experiencing pain?

Between 20 and 50% of people with snapping fingers may require surgery to improve their condition.

Trigger finger can also occur in children, but surgery is not usually recommended in such cases. Trigger finger in this age group can often be treated with stretching and splinting.

Complications

All three types of trigger finger surgery are considered simple and safe, so complications are unlikely.

However, there are small risks, and the doctor should explain them before the operation. These risks include:

scarring;
infections;
pain, numbness and decreased mobility of the finger;
nerve damage;
incomplete recovery, that is, when after surgery the finger gains partial mobility.

Causes of trigger finger

Surgery is not always necessary to treat trigger finger. The treatment plan depends on the individual case

Anyone can get trigger finger, but the following groups of people have an increased risk of developing this condition:

people aged 40 to 60 years;
women;
people who have had hand injuries in the past;
people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis;
people suffering from diabetes.

Repetitive movements, such as grasping the steering wheel or playing the guitar, can cause a trigger finger. However, in most cases the causes of the disease remain unknown.

Snapping finger is associated with certain painful conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling of the joints and their tissues, and this inflammation can spread to the fingers. If the tendons in the fingers become inflamed, it can lead to trigger finger.

People with diabetes also have a higher risk of developing the disease. Snapping finger occurs in 20-30% of people with diabetes and only 2-3% of other people. The connection between diabetes and snapping fingers is unclear.

Conclusions

Surgery for trigger finger is usually successful, and problems very rarely arise after surgery. Both open and percutaneous surgeries are almost always effective, and recovery from them is relatively quick.