Clin Orthop Surg.  2014 Dec;6(4):405-409. 10.4055/cios.2014.6.4.405.

Surgical Release of the First Extensor Compartment for Refractory de Quervain's Tenosynovitis: Surgical Findings and Functional Evaluation Using DASH Scores

• Lee HJ
• Kim PT
• Aminata IW
• Hong HP
• Yoon JP
• Jeon IH

• KMID: 1794728
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/cios.2014.6.4.405

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Few studies have evaluated surgical outcomes in patients with refractory de Quervain's disease using validated outcome measures. We assessed the clinical outcomes of dorsal release of the first extensor compartment for the treatment of de Quervain's disease using the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score.
METHODS
From October 2003 to May 2009, we retrospectively evaluated 33 patients (3 men and 30 women) who underwent surgical treatment for de Quervain's disease. All patients had a positive Finkelstein test and localized tenderness over the first dorsal compartment. All operations were performed under local anesthesia. A 2-cm-long transverse skin incision was made over the first extensor compartment and the dorsal retinaculum covering the extensor pollicis brevis was incised longitudinally. Preoperative and postoperative clinical evaluation included the use of DASH score, Finkelstein test, and visual analogue scale (VAS) score.
RESULTS
In 18 patients (55%), the extensor pollicis brevis tendon compartment was separated from the abductor pollicis longus compartment. Eight patients had intracompartmental ganglia in the extensor pollicis brevis subcompartment. All patients except one had negative sign on Finkelstein test at the last follow-up. The average VAS score decreased from 7.42 preoperatively to 1.33 postoperatively (p < 0.05), and DASH score was improved from 53.2 to 3.45 (p < 0.05). There were no postoperative complications such as subluxation of the tendon of the first dorsal compartment or injury to the sensory branch of the radial nerve.
CONCLUSIONS
Intracompartment ganglia and the separate septum of extensor pollicis brevis are often related to de Quervain's disease. The release of the first extensor compartment for refractory de Quervain's disease resulted in good clinical outcomes with minimal morbidity.

Keyword

De Quervain disease; Tenosynovitis; Surgery; Function; Disability evaluation

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Chronic Disease
De Quervain Disease/diagnosis/*surgery
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Recovery of Function
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The extensor retinaculum is incised longitudinally along the extensor pollicis brevis tendon.

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  Fig. 2 Any entanglement was double-checked by pulling and lifting up the tendon distally.

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  Fig. 3 A dorsal ganglion over the extensor pollicis brevis tendon sheath.

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  Fig. 4 Visual analogue scale (VAS) score of overall pain and pain at night.

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  Fig. 5 Preoperative and postoperative disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score.

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