Evidence checked 26 October 2026. General information, not a personal diagnosis.
Why does my finger catch or lock in my palm?
Trigger finger happens when the tendons that bend a finger or thumb into the palm intermittently jam in the tight tunnel they run through, called the flexor sheath. It causes clicking, catching, stiffness or locking of the finger in the palm [1]. A 2026 network meta-analysis describes it as a mechanical condition caused by a thickened retinacular sheath at the A1 pulley [2].
Finger locking or clicking? To discuss your symptoms and arrange a consultation, send a consultation enquiry, email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429. Assessment comes before a decision about treatment.
At a glance
- Mild cases need no treatment and may settle on their own [1].
- If it interferes with activities or hurts, UK specialist guidance recommends one or two steroid injections first (strong evidence, but it may recur, especially in people with diabetes), or splinting for 3 to 12 weeks (weak evidence) [1].
- Surgery is considered if triggering persists or recurs, if the finger is permanently locked, or in people with diabetes [1].
- In a randomised trial of 165 patients, surgery beat ultrasound-guided steroid injection at 12 months, although surgical complications were more severe [3].
- PRP is not recommended in the UK guidance cited here [1]. Evidence for other hand conditions is not proof it helps trigger finger.
What are the symptoms?
Clicking or catching as you bend and straighten the finger, stiffness, or the finger locking in the palm [1]. Mild triggering is a nuisance with infrequent locking, while other cases cause pain and unreliable hand function [1].
Will it go away without treatment?
Mild cases that cause no loss of function may resolve spontaneously, and avoiding activities that trigger it may help [1]. If it is interfering with what you do, it is worth getting assessed rather than waiting.
What do guidelines and trials say about treatment?
Splinting. Splinting the affected finger for 3 to 12 weeks is an option, based on weak evidence [1].
Steroid injection. UK specialist guidance describes one or two injections as typically successful (strong evidence) and the recommended first-line treatment for most trigger fingers, usually resolving the problem within a week, though triggering can recur and injections are less likely to work in people with diabetes [1]. The 2026 network meta-analysis of 27 randomised trials found steroid injection had significantly higher odds of success than placebo injection, and reported no severe complications with the non-surgical treatments studied [2]. A single trial gives a sense of durability: in 165 patients, 86% were successfully treated at three months after ultrasound-guided steroid injection, falling to 49% at 12 months. Steroid flare occurred in 11 patients and fat necrosis in 2 [3].
Other non-surgical options. The same network meta-analysis found that NSAID injections and shockwave therapy each had significantly higher odds of success than placebo injection, with no significant differences among the three non-surgical options, though the confidence intervals for some estimates were wide [2].
Surgery. In the trial above, 99% of open-surgery patients were successfully treated at 12 months, but complications were more severe: 3 superficial infections and 1 nerve injury [3]. The network meta-analysis found percutaneous release had the highest probability of success [2]. UK guidance says surgery usually provides a permanent cure and recovery takes 2 to 4 weeks, with problems after surgery in under 3% [1].
Does PRP work for trigger finger?
PRP is not recommended in the cited UK guidance [1]. The sources discussed here do not establish it as a routine treatment for trigger finger. If you are weighing options, the evidence above supports splinting, steroid injection and, when needed, release surgery.
When should I get this checked?
If your finger locks, hurts, or interferes with gripping or work, or if it is stuck in the palm. Seek urgent medical help for a hot, red, very painful finger, which can indicate infection.
What can I do in the meantime?
- Avoid activities that clearly trigger it where you can [1].
- A splint may help, although guidance notes the evidence is weak and splints can be cumbersome [1].
- If you have diabetes, tell whoever treats you, because injections are less likely to work and surgery may be considered earlier [1].
What should I ask at an assessment?
Bring a short history of which finger catches, whether it is worse at particular times, how often it locks and whether you can straighten it. Explain how it affects work, sleep, exercise and gripping. Note what you have tried, how long it helped and whether you have had an injection before. Tell the clinician about diabetes and any other medical conditions that could affect a treatment decision.
Ask how the diagnosis was reached, what a period of observation or splinting would involve, and how the benefits and risks of an injection compare with release surgery for your situation. A trial average is not a personal forecast. The 2017 study was a single-centre trial, and its definition of success included normal movement with some discomfort [3]. The 2026 review combined different treatments and trials; a ranking does not mean everyone should go straight to surgery [2].
Is it the same as arthritis or wrist pain?
Trigger finger describes a tendon catching in its sheath, rather than a general label for every painful hand [1]. Persistent pain without triggering needs its own assessment. Read our wrist pain and RSI guide for broader wrist symptoms, or our elbow, wrist and hand injection overview for why treatment depends on the diagnosis. Those are related questions, not interchangeable treatment recommendations.
Next step
To discuss your symptoms and arrange a consultation, send a consultation enquiry, email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429. Assessment comes before a decision about treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Can trigger finger fix itself? Mild cases may resolve spontaneously [1].
How well do steroid injections work? Guidance calls them typically successful, but in one trial success fell from 86% at three months to 49% at 12 months [1][3].
What are the risks of surgery? UK guidance says problems after surgery are under 3%, while one trial recorded infections and a nerve injury among 81 surgical patients [1][3].
Does PRP cure trigger finger? A cure is not established by the sources discussed here. PRP is not a recommended option in the cited UK guidance [1].
This article is general information and does not replace personal medical advice. Individual outcomes vary.
References
- Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Evidence-Based Interventions. Trigger finger release in adults (published Jan 2019, last reviewed Sept 2024). https://ebi.aomrc.org.uk/interventions/trigger-finger-release-in-adults/
- Chiang C-H, Liu W-C, Wu Z-H, Wang J-H, Shih C-L. Evidence-based management strategies for adult trigger digits: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ann Phys Rehabil Med. 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41691955/
- Hansen RL, Søndergaard M, Lange J. Open surgery versus ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection for trigger finger: a randomized controlled trial with 1-year follow-up. J Hand Surg Am. 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28341069/