Introduction
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is a common condition in which the sheath containing the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus tendons is inflamed. It typically affects females aged 30 - 50 years old.
Epidemiology
- Incidence: 300.00 cases per 100,000 person-years
- Peak incidence: 50-60 years
- Sex ratio: more common in females 3:1
| <1 | 1-5 | 6+ | 16+ | 30+ | 40+ | 50+ | 60+ | 70+ | 80+ |
Clinical features
Features
- pain on the radial side of the wrist
- tenderness over the radial styloid process
- abduction of the thumb against resistance is painful
- Finkelstein's test: with the thumb is flexed across the palm of the hand, pain is reproduced by movement of the wrist into flexion and ulnar deviation
Management
Management
- analgesia
- steroid injection
- immobilisation with a thumb splint (spica) may be effective
- surgical treatment is sometimes required