Trigger Finger (stenosing tenosynovitis)
Also known as: trigger finger, snapping finger, stenosing tenosynovitis, locked finger
Trigger finger is a finger catching or locking as it bends — from thickening of the tendon sheath, often with diabetes or overuse. Splinting, steroid injection and, rarely, surgery help. Chinese medicine treats qi-constraint stasis, cold-damp and blood-deficiency patterns alongside.
Plain-English one-pager you can print or hand to a patient. Free, no sign-in needed.
Lifestyle & Diet
- •Splinting and steroid injections usually help — discuss options.
- •Modify repetitive gripping.
- •Diabetes screening is worthwhile if recurrent.
- •Surgery is simple and effective when needed.
When to reassess or seek care again
Review at 4 weeks: catching frequency, function, response to splint or injection.
Explore more diseases
Sources & Further Reading
Clinical guidance, red flags and safety notes on this page draw on the following current sources alongside the classical references above.
- Healthdirect Australia · 2024
- NHS · 2024
- National Library of Medicine · 2024
Educational reference for licensed practitioners. Not a substitute for individual clinical assessment. Refer to conventional care for any red-flag or undiagnosed presentation.