The tendon that is affected travels through a tunnel at the base of the finger (think of it as the pulley system of the fingers). As constriction occurs, either from swelling of the tunnel or of the tendon, the finger locks up. Trigger finger usually starts in one digit.

It’s not well understood what cause trigger finger. It occurs spontaneously, like many conditions in the hand.

People in their 50s and 60s are most commonly affected, although it can occur in younger and older patients as well. There tends to be a slightly higher predominance among women.

If you have trigger finger, your physician and/or orthopedic surgeon may recommend surgery. This involves an incision in the palm, which causes a temporary scar reaction in the palm due to the glabrous skin (like the skin of the foot).

Scarring resolves completely over a period of many months, unless a patient experiences abnormal scarring. If this happens a patient should seek attention from a physiotherapist for scar massage and scar-improvement tools.