De Quervain’s Tendinitis (Tendinitis Quervain)

 

De Quervain’s Tendinitis (Tendinitis Quervain)

De Quervain’s tendinitis is a painful clinical condition that affects the two tendons which connect the thumb to the wrist. The flexible fibrous tendons become inflamed and swelled up. And when their coverings are also involved, it is termed as de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. These tendons attach the thumb to the wrist and maintain the movement of the thumb.

In de Quervain’s tendinitis, both tendons become swelled up, compress the surrounding nerves, and cause severe pain and numbness.

 

Causes of de Quervain’s tendinitis:

Overuse of the wrist for a long time is the main cause of de Quervain’s tendinitis. Some other risk factors in developing de Quervain’s tendinitis are-

• Female gender
• More than 40 years of age
• Pregnancy
• Having a hobby or job involving repetitive wrist joint movement (e.g., tennis player, golf, piano, typing, etc.)
• Direct trauma or injury to the wrist joint.
• Rheumatological disease, like rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms of de Quervain’s tendinitis:

• Pain and tenderness at the base of the thumb and the wrist joint.
• Pain may feel up to the forearm.
• Increase pain during movement of the thumb, wrist, and hand.
• Swelling and tenderness at the base of the affected thumb
• Numbness may be developed in the affected area

Today's topic of Dr Hasan's Blog is- De Quervain’s Tendinitis (Tendinitis Quervain)

How to diagnose de Quervain’s tendinitis?

To diagnose de Quervain’s tendinitis, a doctor may ask you to perform a physical test named the Finkelstein test. In this procedure, you have to make a fist with your fingers closed over the thumb and bend the wrist towards your little finger. If it is painful, then the test is positive.

X-ray and MRI of the wrist joint may help to confirm and exclude the other pathologies.

 

Treatments of de Quervain’s tendinitis:

The main goal of the treatments is to reduce and relieve the pain in the wrist caused by tendon irritation and swelling. There is some non-surgical and surgical management for the treatment of de Quervain’s tendinitis.

Non-surgical treatments of de Quervain’s tendinitis:

1. Splints: Splints will keep the wrist and thumb fixed and rest on the joint.
2. Avoiding active movements of the affected wrist and the thumb. Especially the movements which caused de Quervain’s tendinitis should be strictly prohibited.
3. Pain killer: NSAID is used to relieve the pain. According to the severity of the pain, Oral and injectable forms can be used.
4. Steroid injection: Corticosteroid injection may be applied to the affected tendon or tendon sheath. It gives a dramatic response and relieves the pain.
5. Physiotherapy and exercises: Exercises of the wrist and thumb joint may be helpful to reduce chronic pain. But these activities should be guided by a physiotherapist. But in some cases, it may worsen the condition.

Today's topic of Dr Hasan's Blog is- De Quervain’s Tendinitis (Tendinitis Quervain)

Surgical treatment of de Quervain’s tendinitis:

If the symptom is severe surgical correction may be required. Surgery is done to open the thumb compartment or coverings to make more spaces for the inflamed and swelled tendon.

 

De Quervain's tendinitis is an excruciating condition. The painful wrist may hamper daily activities. Immediate medical attention is necessary to recover de Quervain's tendinitis.

 

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