Tendinitis with involvement of the thumb saddle joint | Tendinitis in the thumb

Tendinitis with involvement of the thumb saddle joint

The thumb saddle joint is the connection between the thumb and the metacarpus. It is responsible for most movements performed with the thumb. An arthrosis in this joint, which occurs relatively frequently, would be called rhizarthrosis.

An inflammation of the tendon of the thumb can sometimes be so pronounced that the inflammation moves upwards along the thumb muscle and finally reaches the joint of the thumb. The patient usually only notices this by stronger pain during movement and pressure in the area of the thumb joint. Sometimes, involvement of the thumb saddle joint can also lead to swelling in the joint, which can lead to further restrictions in movement.

The treatment of an inflammation of the thumb tendon with or without involvement of the thumb saddle joint is the same. A quick and regular cooling and immobilization of the thumb should be carried out, an anti-inflammatory pain treatment with tablets can significantly accelerate the healing process. For diagnostic purposes, an X-ray can also be taken, which would be clearly noticeable in the case of thumb saddle joint involvement.

How do I distinguish tendonitis from arthrosis in the thumb?

Tendinitis in the thumb can have various causes such as overloading or infection and causes typical signs of inflammation. The affected area is reddened, swollen, warmed, painful and can impair the thumb’s ability to move. In contrast to acute tendonitis, arthrosis of the thumb is a degenerative joint disease without inflammation. Arthrosis in the area of the thumb saddle joint, rhizarthrosis, is very common and can cause pain, joint effusions and swelling as well as an impairment of joint function. While tendonitis is an acute inflammation of a tendon of the thumb, arthrosis in the thumb develops over time due to joint wear and typically affects the thumb saddle joint.

How do I distinguish an inflammation of the tendons from a gout attack in the thumb?

An acute tendon inflammation shows itself with the classic signs of inflammation, a warming, redness, pain and swelling in the area of the affected tendon. The mobility of the thumb can be visibly restricted as a result. An acute attack of gout in the thumb is caused by the precipitation of uric acid crystals in the thumb joint.

A gout attack in the base of the thumb joint is called Chiragra. As with tendonitis, the thumb is painful, swollen and reddened. At the same time, an acute attack of gout is often accompanied by fever and a strong serous effusion. The swelling is localized around a joint and is much more pronounced than in tendonitis.