Trigger thumb / finger - children and young people

Trigger thumb / finger

A trigger finger or trigger thumb occurs when the tendons that flex the finger enlarge. This means the tendons are not able to slide smoothly within the tunnel the tendons pass through.

This causes your child’s finger or thumb to either get stuck in a bent or straight position or click when they try to straighten it.

Causes

This is not caused by an injury. The thickening of the tendon doesn't mean your child has an underlying problem or condition.

Although it can affect the child's ability to straighten their thumb, it is rarely painful. It does not cause any problems with using their hands and usually gets better without treatment.

In children, the most common digit involved is the thumb.

Trigger thumb or finger is rarely noticed at birth. They can be present in infancy. The condition is also often found in older children.

Treatment

Trigger thumbs in children can resolve spontaneously with no treatment although this can take anything from 1-2 years. There is no evidence that splints or exercise make any difference to this. 

Is surgery helpful? 

In a small number of children for who it does not get better then surgical release can be carried out to release the tendon from the tendon sheath where it is catching, allowing the tendon to glide more smoothly.

We would not do this under the age of 3 years as the risks of injury to digital nerve causing painful neuroma and loss of sensation are slightly higher before that age.