De Quervain's Tenosynovitis

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Lead Editors - Corin Arundale, David Cameron, John Fite, Bryan Purkey, John Winkelhaus

Search Strategy

Databases: CINAHL, PUBMED, MEDLINE

Keywords: DeQuervain's, tenosynovitis, radial wrist pain, conservative management, rehabilitation, physical therapy

Timeline: 10/20/2011 - 11/28/2011

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Definition/Description

De Quervain's Tenosynovitis is a painful inflammation of tendons on the side of the wrist at the base of the thumb. These tendons include the extensor pollicis brevis and the abductor pollicis longus. If you have De Quervain's tenosynovitis, you're likely to feel discomfort every time you turn your wrist, grasp anything or make a fist.

Epidemiology/Etiology

Causes may include chronic overuse injury, direct trauma leading to scar tissue formation, or inflammatory arthritis. Patients typically report painful abduction of the thumb and decreased grip strength. The most common cause is chronic overuse. Activities such as golfing, playing the piano, fly fishing, carpentry, office workers, musicians, and carrying a child in the arms for prolonged periods can lead to chronic overuse injuries. Repetitive gripping, grasping, clenching, pinching, or wringing of objects can cause inflammation of the tendons and tendon sheaths and narrows the first dorsal compartment and causes limitation of motion of the tendons. If left untreated, the inflammation and progressive narrowing (stenosis) can cause scarring that further limits thumb motion.

In industrial settings, studies have shown a point prevalence of 8% when wrist pain and a positive Finkelstein’s test is present. In non-industrial settings, one study with 485 patients with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (mostly musicians and computer users) found that 17% were diagnosed with in the right hand and 5% in the left hand when a positive Finkelstein’s test was present. Risk factors for include patients who are female and in the age range of 30-50.

Characteristics/Clinical Presentation

The primary complaint is radial sided wrist pain that radiates up the forearm with grasping or extension of the thumb. The pain has been described as a “constant aching, burning, pulling sensation." Pain is often aggravated by repetitive lifting, gripping, or twisting motions of the hand. Swelling in the anatomical snuff box, tenderness at the radial styloid process, decreased CMC abduction ROM of the 1st digit, palpable thickening of the extensor sheaths of the 1st dorsal compartment and crepitus of the tendons moving from the extensor sheath may be found upon examination. Other possible findings include weakness and paresthesia in the hand. Finkelstein’s diagnostic test will present positive provoking the patient’s symptoms.

Differential Diagnosis 

Intercarpal Instabilities
The wrist has many small bones and ligaments and is a complex structure. Injury to these structures through trauma or degeneration can cause instability between the articulating bones. This can lead to altered biomechanics of the wrist accompanied by pain. Scapholunate disassociation, scapho-trapezio-trapezoidal joint degeneratioin, and lunatotriquetral dissociation could all present with radial sided wrist pain.

Scaphoid Fracture
A scaphoid fracture most commonly occurs by a FOOSH in wrist extension and will present with radial sided wrist pain, tenderness and possible swelling in the anatomical snuff box, and limited ROM with pain especially at end ranges. If the patient presents with radial side wrist pain after a traumatic injury a scaphoid fracture must be ruled out.

Superficial Radial Neuritis
The superficial radial nerve supplies sensation to the dorsal surfaces of digits 1-2 and the first web space. The nerve can become compressed between the tendons of the extensor carpi radialis brevis and the brachioradialis or in developing scar tissue after trauma. Compression will cause ischemia resulting in numbness and tingling in this distribution.

C6 Cervical Radiculopahy
Compression on a spinal nerve root can cause sensory disturbances, myotomal weakness, and diminished reflexes throughout the root's distribution. The dermatomal keypoint for the C6 nerve root is the radial aspect of the 2nd metacarpal and index finger which is close to the area of pain experienced with De Quervain’s. Since a radiculopathy can present much like De Quervain’s a thorough screen of the cervical spine is necessary.

Osteoarthritis of the 1st CMC
Osteoarthritis of the 1st CMC typically occurs in individuals greater than 50 years old, and will most frequently present with morning stiffness of the 1st CMC joint, a general decrease in ROM of the joint, tenderness along the joint line, and a positive grind test.

Outcome Measure

• DASH Outcome Measure 
• Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) 
• Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS)
  

Examination

The evaluation of a pt. with signs and symptoms of De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis begins with a thorough history followed by a physical examination:

History

• Overuse injury vs acute trauma
• Prior hx of sxs
• Repetitive movements of the UE with work or ADL
• Pn localized over the base of thumb and dorsolateral aspect of the wrist near radial styloid process
• Hand dominance
• Pregnant or currently in post-partum stage

Physical Exam

Vitals:
• Height
• Body weight
• Blood Pressure
• Pulse Rate
• Respiration Rate
• Temperature (if indicated)
*Establish a baseline for patients overall health status*

Observation in Sitting:
• Resting posture of the hand/thumb
• Inflammation around dorsal aspect of the base of the thumb and/or near the radial styloid process

Neurological Screen –If indicated (1. Pt. complains of numbness and/or tingling 2. Reproduction of pn with movement of the cervical spine):

• Dermatomes (C4- T1)
• Myotomes (C4- T1)
• Reflexes (C5, C6, C7)
• Pathological (Hoffman’s)

*Identify if there is any involvement with the CNS, Possible decreased sensation of skin innervated by superficial radial sensory nn (dorsal aspect of the thumb and index finger),Take note of weakness secondary to pn, or actual weakness due to a neurological involvement*

Palpation:
• Radial Dorsal Zone
   o Radial Styloid Process
   o “Anatomical Snuff Box” – Scaphoid, Trapezium, EPL, EPB, APL
   o 1st CMC jt.
• Soft tissue surrounding involved area

*Key Findings: TTP over the base of thumb and/or 1st dorsal compartment extensor tendons on thumb side of wrist particularly over the radial styloid process, May also find palpable thickening of the synovial sheaths*
*Rule Out: Palpate 1st CMC for joint line tenderness and/or deformity to r/o OA, Scaphoid bone to r/o scaphoid fx*

Range of Motion:
• Cervical ROM
   o Flexion, Extension, R&L SB, R&L Rotation
*Screening to rule out cervical involvement*

• Shldr/Elbow/Forearm
   o Shldr Flex/Ext/Abd/Add
   o Elbow Flexion/Extension
   o FA Pronation/Supination
*Screening to rule out proximal joints and structures*

• Wrist
   o Flex/Ext/UD/RD
• Digit 2-5
   o Flex/Ext (MCP, PIP, DIP)
   o AB/AD (MCP)
• Thumb
   o Flex/Ext (CMC,MCP,IP)
   o AB/AD (CMC,MCP)
   o Opposition
*Document impaired ROM’s, thumb may have a “catching” or “snapping” sensation while moving due to decreased mobility of tendon through synovial sheath*

Resisted Muscle Tests:
• Fist Grip Strength
• Pinch Strength (pinch gauge)
*Expect a decrease in strength secondary to pn, Document max amount within pn free strength, Can be used to track pt. progression throughout treatment*

Muscle Length:
• Intrinsic flexibility
• Wrist flexors & extensors

Joint accessory mobility:
• DRUJ
• Wrist
   o RC, MC
• Thumb
   o CMC,MCP, IP
• Digits
   o MCP, PIP, DIP
*Looking for areas of hyper/hypomobility, Treatment will be impairment based, Important to note that areas of hypomobility may be referring pain*

Special Tests:
• Rule in
   o Finkelsteins
*Provocative test so perform with caution*

• Rule Out
   o Grind Test- 1st CMC OA

   o Palpation of scaphoid-Scaphoid Fx
   o ULTT B-Superficial Radial Neuritis
   o Cervical Radiculopathy CPR
   o Joint Accessory Mobility- Intercarpal Instabilities

Neurologic Tests:
• ULTT B
   o Radial nn
• Radial NN
   o Tinel’s Sign
Circulatory:
• Blanching/Capillary Refill

Capsuloligamentous-if an acute injury:
• Thumb & Digit collateral ligament stress testing (varus/valgus)

Medical Management

The goal in treating de Quervain's tendinitis is to relieve the pain caused by irritation and swelling.

Non-Surgical Treatment:
To reduce pain and swelling, initial treatment of de Quervain's tenosynovitis may include:
• Immobilizing your thumb and wrist with a splint or brace to help rest your tendons. Clinicians do not agree on frequency and duration of the splint; some think it should be worn continually for four to six weeks; others recommend wearing it only as needed for pain.

• Avoiding repetitive or aggravating movements
• Applying ice to the affected area
• NSAIDs
• Injections of corticosteroid medications into the tendon sheath
• Physical Therapy

Surgical Treatment:
Surgery is rare and is usually for those when non-surgical treatment has failed and the patient experiences persistent inflammation affecting his or her function. The goal of surgery is to open the dorsal compartment covering to make more room for the irritated tendons. The opening allows pressure relief of the tendons, to ultimately restore free tendon gliding. One study showed effective outcomes for compartmental reconstruction for De Quervain stenosing tenosynovitis. The surgical technique included lengthening of the first dorsal compartment with two incomplete parallel incisions in opposite directions. This technique allowed the compartment to not be completed disrupted and did not include sutures. The study reported that the advantages of the technique included simplicity of the surgery, restoration of normal anatomy, and prevention of complications (scarring, adhesions, and subluxation of tendons). The results reported 10 out of the 12 patients who were received the wrist operation demostrated complete relief of symptoms.Despite the type if surgery patient should receive hand therapy post operatively to restore motion and strength to promote function with daily activities.

Physical Therapy Management

There have not been any high quality studies examining the effects of conservative management as a standalone intervention. The vast majority of the literature focuses on corticosteroid and other injections in comparison to placebo. In studies where injections have been shown superior to splinting, the long term outcomes were not examined.

A Cochrane Review concluded that there is Silver Level evidence that corticosteroid injection is superior to splinting in relieving pain. The authors, however, concede that "the evidence is based on one very small controlled clinical trial of short duration and poor methodological quality, which included only pregnant and lactating women."

Walker presented a case study which examined the use of an impairment-based approach to direct manual interventions in a patient with radial wrist pain. Although deQuervain's was ultimately ruled out as the condition at hand, this report serves to support an impairment-based approach, using manual interventions - specifically grade IV radiocarpal, intercarpal, and 1st CMC joint mobilization - to relieve pain and dysfunction in radial wrist pain.

Ashurst presented a case study in which a patient with diagnosed deQuervain's was prescribed oral anti-inflammatory medication coupled with night splinting and relative rest. The patient wore cock-up wrist splints at night and was instructed minimize the amount of text messaging (the action that preceded the condition) performed. This case study provides support for a relative rest approach, in which a patient avoids aggravating activities, while remaining otherwise active.

Viikari-Juntura performed a literature review, and found that splinting is the most important component of treatment for tenosynovitis. It was found that a splint which allowed for some movement was superior to complete immobilization of the thumb with respect to duration of disability. It was also determined that time off from work was neither necessary nor desirable. It was also found that heat, massage, “motion,” and electrotherapy were not effective for reducing disability.

Key Research

Viikari-Juntura E. Tenosynovitis, peritendinitis and the tennis elbow syndrome. Scand J Work Environ Health 1984;10(6):443-449.

Walker MJ. Manual Physical Therapy Examination and Intervention of a Patient With Radial Wrist Pain: A Case Report. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2004:34(12).

Resources

Mayo Clinic Overview of DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis

MedicineNet Overview of DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis

WebMD Overview of DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis

Clinical Bottom Line

Effective management of DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis will involve a highly individualized, impairment driven approach for the patient in question. Early splinting during the acute phase will prevent aggravation of the tissues, and allow the patient to perform activities essential to self-care and employment. The patient will need to be educated on the tissue healing timetables, as well as why it is important to avoid activities that are aggravating to their symptoms. Once symptoms have decreased to the point that a splint is no longer necessary, the therapist will need to perform a thorough examination and evaluation to determine the residual effects from immobilization. Some losses in ROM may occur, and grade III-IV mobilizations of the radiocarpal, scapholunate, and 1st CMC joint would then be warranted.

Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)

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