A common problem seen in repetitive knife use in the meat packing industry is trigger finger. Trigger finger is an inflammation or thickening of the protective sheath that surrounds the tendon that flexes (bends) the finger. This thickening of the tendon gets caught under a fibrous band called the A1 pulley, which is located on the palm side of the first knuckle of the finger. This is a common site of injury/inflammation due to the pressure put on it during gripping of hard objects, such as a knife handle, and the repetitive bending of the fingers during gripping activities.
Symptoms Experienced by the Worker
Workers often notice a catching or locking of the finger in flexion (gripping motion) and they experience a snapping sensation when the finger goes back into a straightened (extended) position. In some cases, the finger gets “locked” in flexion and needs to be assisted to get back to a fully extended position. Often there is tenderness or a palpable nodule at the site of the A1 pulley where the tendon is getting caught.
Methods to Treat Trigger Finger
Our medical team at Industry Health Solutions (IHS) is able to identify the early signs of trigger finger and help with modifications to stop the progression of the inflammation, pain and limitations that come with untreated trigger fingers. Initial modifications can be made to the knife handle or by use of a padded glove to decrease the pressure at the A1 pulley. Industry Health Solutions’ athletic trainers instruct knife handlers in stretches to be performed at the beginning and throughout their workday to help maintain the health of the hand tendons and muscles.
If a person’s trigger finger has progressed to where it is interrupting their normal function, Industry Health Solutions’ rehabilitation experts and medical staff will address the inflammation, pain, and limited motion to allow the person to return to their normal work duties with minimal loss of work time. Along with continued behavioral/equipment modifications, our healthcare team will use a combination of anti-inflammatory treatments and/or medication, finger splinting, manual therapies, and corticosteroid injections to manage the trigger finger. Ultimately, our goal is to address the trigger finger early and pro-actively to alleviate the need for any surgical intervention and get the person back to full, normal job duties as quickly and safely as possible.
Contact Industry Health Solutions to learn how our medical staff can improve this condition for your industrial team members.
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