Trigger finger is one of the most common causes of hand pain typically over the distal crease of the palm. Primary trigger finger is seen more commonly in middle aged females and secondary trigger finger is associated with diabetes, gout, rheumatoid arthritis and amyloidosis. Trigger fingers may occur in any finger but is most common in the thumb and ring finger. Patients often have multiple fingers affected, either on the same or other hand.

The pathology is a narrowing of the tunnel through which the tendon glides, causing friction and scarring of both the tendon and the pulley overlying it.