Alleviate Your De Quervain’s Tendonitis Pain at Orange County Hand Surgery Specialists!
Tendonitis can develop in multiple spots on the hands, causing pain and difficulty performing daily activities. De Quervain’s tendonitis primarily affects the thumbs and wrists and can be corrected through expert treatment by double board-certified orthopaedic and hand surgeon Dr. Ying Chi.
Contact Orange County Hand Surgery Specialists today to schedule a consultation at our office in Fountain Valley or Tustin and find out if you are a candidate for de Quervain’s tendonitis treatment.
What is De Quervain’s Tendonitis?
Also known as first dorsal compartment tendonitis, this condition is named after Swiss surgeon Fritz de Quervain and is characterized by inflammation of the wrist tendons at the base of the thumb. This causes the protective tunnel or sheath around the tendons to swell and enlarge, making movements of the thumbs and wrists painful.
Gradual or sudden pain in the thumb side of the wrist is the most common symptom of this condition and can also include numbness or radiating pain for some patients. During your consultation with Dr. Chi, we will use advanced testing to assess the full extent of your injury before prescribing a treatment plan.
What Causes De Quervain’s Tendonitis?
This condition is typically caused when the patient takes up a new and repetitive activity, such as caring for an infant. The hormone fluctuations with nursing and pregnancy can also play a role. Wrist fractures can also result in the development of de Quervain’s tendonitis due to the added stress on the tendons.
How is de Quervain’s Tendonitis Treated?
The goal of treating this condition is to relieve the irritation and pain, and this can often be accomplished through non-surgical options such as:
- Resting the affected thumb and wrist in a splint
- Prescription oral anti-inflammatory medication
- A steroid injection
In cases where symptoms are severe or do not improve after initial treatment, surgical intervention may be recommended. This procedure opens up the compartment, making more room for the inflamed tendons and alleviating the pain caused by the tight space. When surgery is necessary for best results, Dr. Chi will discuss your procedure with you and let you know what you can expect.
What Results Can I Expect?
After the initial healing period, patients should regain full functionality of their wrists and thumbs and be able to resume normal activities. Dr. Chi will discuss whether you should take any time off for your procedure and whether follow-up appointments will be necessary.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Chi.
The first dorsal compartment. There are six compartments on the dorsal, or back, side of the wrist. The first and third compartments house tendons which control the thumb.
de Quervain’s Tendonitis
Finkelstein maneuver, a helpful test to diagnose de Quervain’s Tendonitis. Figure 2 shows the first dorsal compartment relaxed; Figure 3 shows the compartment stretched when the fist is bent toward the little finger.