🦴 What Is De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis?
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a painful condition affecting the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. It occurs when the tendons are constricted by the sheath that they run through to get from the wrist to the hand. This condition can cause pain and tenderness along the thumb side of the wrist. This is particularly noticeable when you are:healthline.com+3mayoclinic.org+3orthoinfo.aaos.org+3orthoinfo.aaos.org
- Moving the thumb
- Forming a fist
- Grasping or gripping something
- Turning the wrist
- Lifting something with your arms in front of you and thumbs pointed toward the ceiling (e.g., lifting a child)orthoinfo.aaos.org+1mayoclinic.org+1
🧠 Causes
The exact cause isn’t always clear, but common factors include:
- Repetitive hand or wrist movements
- Overuse of the thumb and wrist
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Rheumatoid arthritisorthoinfo.aaos.org+2mayoclinic.org+2assh.org+2verywellhealth.com+8orthoinfo.aaos.org+8mayoclinic.org+8
⚠️ Symptoms
Symptoms of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis include:
- Pain near the base of the thumb
- Swelling near the base of the thumb
- Difficulty moving the thumb and wrist when doing something that involves grasping or pinching
- A “sticking” or “stop-and-go” sensation in the thumb when moving itmayoclinic.org
🩺 Diagnosis
To diagnose de Quervain tenosynovitis, your healthcare provider will examine your hand to see if you feel pain when pressure is applied on the thumb side of the wrist.my.clevelandclinic.org+7mayoclinic.org+7mayoclinic.org+7
Tests
- Finkelstein Test: Bend your thumb across the palm of your hand and bend your fingers down over your thumb. Then bend your wrist toward your little finger. If this causes pain on the thumb side of your wrist, you likely have de Quervain tenosynovitis.mayoclinic.org
💊 Treatment
Conservative Treatments
- Rest and Immobilization: Resting the affected wrist and thumb is crucial in reducing inflammation. Immobilization with a splint or brace can prevent further tendon irritation.
- Ice Therapy: Applying ice to the affected area can help reduce swelling and alleviate pain.
- Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, can be effective in reducing pain and inflammation associated with de Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
- Corticosteroid Injections: In cases where conservative treatments are insufficient, corticosteroid injections may be administered directly at the site to reduce inflammation and pain.medicoverhospitals.in
Surgical Treatment
For severe cases unresponsive to conservative treatments, surgery may be necessary. Surgical intervention involves releasing the constricted tendon sheath to allow smooth tendon movement.orthoinfo.aaos.org+4medicoverhospitals.in+4healthline.com+4
🧬 Risk Factors
- Age: People between the ages of 30 and 50 have a higher risk of developing de Quervain tenosynovitis.
- Sex: The condition is more common in women.
- Pregnancy: The condition may be associated with pregnancy.
- Baby Care: Lifting a child repeatedly involves using the thumbs as leverage and may be associated with the condition.
- Jobs or Hobbies: Involving repetitive hand and wrist motions may contribute to de Quervain tenosynovitis.verywellhealth.com+2mayoclinic.org+2orthoinfo.aaos.org+2