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Nature Of Wrist Dequervains Syndrome Affecting Patients in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Apex, Garner and the Triangle

Wrist De Quervain Syndrome is common and involves inflammation of the tendons in the forearm on the thumb-side of the wrist joint as they traverse across the wrist and into the thumb. Tendons are contractile soft tissue extensions of muscles that attach the muscle to the bone. Tendons are bound in place by a restrictive crossing tissue called a retinaculum. The tendons also reside within a sheath or tunnel and are lubricated within this sheath by fluid called synovium. In stressful or overuse scenarios, this tissue can become inflamed and is thus called "tenosynovitis".It is not uncommon to have nerve irritation with inflammation of the tendons as this area is also in close proximity to small nerve branches from the radial nerve.

What Can Cause Wrist De Quervain Syndrome?

This condition is most commonly seen on the thumb-side of the wrist joint in that population involved in highly repetitive or loaded hand and wrist activities such as lifting, hammering, twisting or grasping. It is also very commonly seen in young mothers that hold their child for long periods of time or use bassinette carriers.

What Type Of Symptoms May Be Expected from
Wrist De Quervain Syndrome?

Most often, patients with wrist DeQuervains Syndrome will complain of noticeable pain on the thumb-side of the wrist joint that traverses from the lower forearm down to the wrist and even thumb and inflammation of the tendons. There may be swelling or later development of a cyst from the inflammation. In more severe cases the patient may complain of a catching or snapping sensation in the wrist and lower forearm area with thumb movement and the possibility of numbness along the thumb and index fingers.

What Is The Recommended Treatment for
Wrist DeQuervains Syndrome?

As with most inflammatory conditions the best approach to treating inflammation of the tendons is rest and activity modification taking care to avoid lifting with the inflamed hand. Along with rest it is helpful to take anti-inflammatory medications according to your physician’s recommendation. The use of a thumb spica wrist splint can also prove to be very beneficial along with ice massage to the inflamed area on the thumb-side of the wrist joint. In more severe cases your physician may recommend 1-2 steroid injections and in those cases that do not resolve a surgical procedure to release the retinaculum may be necessary. In the event that surgery is needed, this is a fairly quick and easy event that requires rest for 1-2 weeks post surgery.

For more information on how the wrist tendonitis specialists at Cary Orthopaedics can help you, contact us today at 919-467-4992 for an appointment.

Cary Orthopaedics serves patients from Raleigh, Garner, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Clayton, Chapel Hill, and Pittsboro, NC