Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnoses of tendovaginitis include various arthritic diseases and inflammation of the penis processes (styloiditis). The disease known as styloiditis is an inflammatory pain phenomenon, which particularly often affects the bones of the ulna, radius or metacarpus. Similar to tendovaginitis, styloiditis also manifests itself through the appearance of stabbing pain in the wrist area.

In addition, many patients describe a painful feeling of pressure over the affected penis process. In particular, ulnar styloiditis, which affects the bony ulna, is considered a differential diagnosis to tendovaginitis. In addition, patients who frequently complain of complaints in the wrist area should be considered for differential diagnosis of degenerative joint disease.

The joint disease known under the technical term rhizarthrosis mainly affects the wrist and thumb saddle joint and for this reason can easily be confused with tendovaginitis. In contrast to tendosynovitis, however, rhizarthrosis patients suffer not only from the typical stabbing pain but also from sometimes severe swelling in the area of the affected joint. Furthermore, the joint function of affected patients is severely restricted.

In addition, the differential diagnosis of rhizarthrosis can be made with the help of an x-ray image in which clear signs of osteoarthritis can be seen. Wrist arthrosis is also considered a frequent differential diagnosis of tendovaginitis. In wrist arthrosis there are signs of wear and tear of cartilage tissue on joint forming bone surfaces.

Cartilage wear and tear can have many causes, but in the majority of patients, no reason can be found for the occurrence of wrist arthrosis. The main symptoms include pain and swelling in the area of the affected joint. In addition, many patients complain of severe limitations in joint function and also show visible deformities.

Diagnosis for treatment approach

Especially with regard to the various possible causes of tendovaginitis, diagnosis plays a decisive role in the choice of the best possible therapy strategy. While infectious forms can usually be treated with antibiotics, the non-infectious types of tendovaginitis require more extensive treatment. The most important point in the diagnosis of tendovaginitis is a comprehensive doctor-patient consultation (anamnesis). By questioning the patient regarding pain quality, intensity and localization, the attending physician can already gain first indications of the presence of tendovaginitis.In addition, the radiating of the pain via the muscle adjacent to the inflamed tendon is a characteristic of tendovaginitis. Furthermore, special tests are usually performed for diagnosis, which indicate the presence of tendovaginitis with a high probability.