Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disorder that not only affects the joints but can damage a wide variety of body systems like skin, heart and eyes. It is an autoimmune disorder, and it occurs when the immune system of the body starts to attack its body tissues. It is a severe complication, and it arises to many other diseases.
Rheumatoid arthritis can be a cause of trigger finger as synovial proliferation results in the production of isolated rheumatoid nodules on tendons which can result in trigger finger. The location and size of these knots on the flexor tendon determine the point of triggering. In patients who have rheumatoid arthritis, four types of trigger finger can occur. The first type is just similar to rheumatoid trigger finger in which hyper-proliferation of the synovium (soft tissues that line the spaces of tendons, sheath and burse) occurs. In 2nd condition, bumps or nodules are formed in the distal palm, which causes a finger to lock in a bent position. Then there is a 3rd type of trigger finger seen in patients of rheumatoid arthritis in which the nodules on the flexor digitorum profundus muscle (muscle present in the forearm that flexes fingers) over the proximal pharynx lock the finger in extension. Due to which the mobilization of finger stops. While in the 4rth type of trigger finger, there is a generalized trigger finger within the fibro-osseous canal which results in stiffness and contraction.