Finger pain and stiffness

Here’s the translation of the passage: "Physiologically, the flexor tendons of the hand are surrounded by structures called sheaths, which serve to protect and nourish them. At specific intervals on the palmar surface of the phalanges of the fingers, there are other structures known as annular ligaments (pulleys).

Here’s the translation of the passage: "These ligaments function like pulleys: they encircle the flexor tendons, and with the contraction of the flexor muscles located in the forearm, the tendons, which extend from the wrist area to the fingertips, passing under the annular ligaments, are able to flex the phalanges of the fingers at the corresponding joints. This enables the movement of the fingers in flexion and, in general, the function of the hand as a grasping tool."

"In the community, it is particularly common, especially among people who work with their hands, to experience pain in the palm area near the 'base' of a finger when bending it. In fact, it is usual for this symptom to worsen and progress to a blockage (locking) of the free flexion of the finger."

Here’s the translation of the passage: "This pathological condition is called trigger finger and can occur in all fingers. It is more common in patients with diabetes and thyroid disorders. The middle and ring fingers are most often affected."

The cause of the damage is located in the abnormal metabolism (production and breakdown) of collagen in the area of the affected tendon and its sheath, as well as the corresponding annular ligament. The result of this 'imbalance' is the mechanical narrowing of the 'sliding' space of the affected tendon under the corresponding annular ligament due to thickening of the ligament, thickening of the tendon, or both."

"Patients who have difficulty bending their finger for a long time prefer to keep their finger in a relative flexion to avoid pain, while the symptoms may reach a point where the finger cannot extend on its own, effectively 'locking' in flexion. In this case, the patient is forced to 'unlock' it by extending the affected finger with the other hand, much like someone opening a pocket knife."

The chronicity of this condition affects the other small joints of the finger, resulting in their stiffness and making it difficult for the patient to fully extend the finger, even if the patient ultimately decides to intervene to restore the initial narrowing."

The treatment for this condition can initially begin conservatively with the use of specialized finger extension splints and injectable corticosteroids. When these measures fail or when the patient is already in an advanced stage, surgical treatment is indicated."

The surgery is simple, can be performed under local anesthesia, and aims to cut the annular ligament to free the movement of the tendon. This restores the movement of the finger without pain and locking."

The recovery is quick and mainly involves caring for the healing of the incision. The functionality of the finger is restored to normal levels rapidly, starting immediately after the surgery."