De Quervain's tenosynovitis

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.

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: the examiner pulls the thumb of the patient in ulnar deviation and longitudinal traction. In a patient with tenosynovitis this action causes pain over the radial styloid process and along the length of extensor pollisis brevis and abductor pollicis longus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WBVXBx34W0&t=152s

Management

• analgesia
• steroid injection
• immobilisation with a thumb splint (spica) may be effective
• surgical treatment is sometimes required