A Review: Pseudo-trigger digits

There are several conditions that may mimic the classic trigger finger. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a subset of patients with the chief complaint of digital catching and locking caused by pathologic conditions other than stenosing tenosynovitis. This was a retrospective review of patients who did not have trigger finger but presented with a chief complaint of digital catching and locking. We reviewed this group of patients and identified diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes. The diagnoses that also caused digital catching and locking included: 1) osteophytic bone deformity; 2) swan-neck deformity; 3) congenital tendinous anomalies; 4) A2 pulley anomalies; 5) intratendinous tumor/ganglion; and 6) subluxating extensor tendon. Awareness of the possibility of other diagnoses causing catching and locking of digits should aid in accurate evaluation and treatment of this common hand complaint.