J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2012 Oct;47(5):387-391. 10.4055/jkoa.2012.47.5.387.

Acute Calcific Tendinitis of the Abductor Pollicis Brevis in the Hand

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Dankook University Hospital, Dankook University Medical College, Cheonan, Korea. puhoo73@hanmaill.net
  • 2Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Pohang St. Mary's Hospital, Pohang, Korea.

Abstract

Acute calcific tendinitis in the hand is a very rare disease. We experienced two cases of acute calcific tendinitis of the abductor pollicis brevis in the hand. Both of the patients experienced pain, edema and erythema on radial side of metacarpophalangeal joint of thumb. We successfully treated the condition with aspiration and steroid injection under the ultrasonographic examination and subsequently, applied the casts. An improvement of the symptoms was observed with good results. In the present work, we report these cases with appropriate review of literatures.

Keyword

calcific tendinitis; metacarpophalangeal joint; ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Edema
Erythema
Hand
Humans
Metacarpophalangeal Joint
Rare Diseases
Tendinopathy
Thumb

Figure

  • Figure 1 Radiograph of the right hand reveals calcification along the course of the abductor pollicis brevis tendon (arrow).

  • Figure 2 Calcification was identified above abductor pollicis tendon at ultrasonography (arrow).

  • Figure 3 Radiograph after 1 week shows disappearance of the calcification.

  • Figure 4 Radiograph of the left hand reveals calcification along the course of the abductor pollicis brevis tendon (arrow).

  • Figure 5 Magnetic resonance imaging shows a low intensity on axial T2-weighted image (arrow).

  • Figure 6 Radiograph after 2 weeks shows disappearance of the calcification.


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