Tendovaginitis de Quervain
Tendovaginitis stenosans de Quervain is a special form of tendosynovitis, which is exclusively limited to the tendons of the thumb. The inflammatory process thus affects the tendon sheaths of the thumb attachment points of two muscles (Musculus abductor pollicis longus and Musculus extensor pollicis brevis), so that their tendons are less able to slide back and forth in the tendon sheaths due to scarring and constriction by other tissues. The result is load-dependent pain in the thumb joint during straddling and stretching movements and certain wrist movements, whereby the pain can even radiate into the forearm.
Summary
Tendinitis is an inflammation of the tendon sheaths that surround the tendons, which are found in the area of the hands and feet. The most common cause of tendosynovitis is movement-related overloading in connection with poor posture, less frequently a bacterial infection or an inflammatory rheumatic disease. The clinical picture is accompanied by painful movement, redness, swelling and warming.
In some cases, tendosynovitis also manifests itself as a crunching noise when palpating (crepitation). As a special form exists the tendovaginitis stenosans, which appears as a “fast finger” and the tendovaginitis stenosans de Quervain, also known as fast thumb. The therapy of a tendosynovitis consists of immobilization and pain relief.
In severe cases, as well as in tendovaginitis stenosans and tendovaginitis stenosans de Quervain, surgery is performed with splitting of the tendon sheath to relieve the symptoms. Overall, the prognosis for acute courses of tendovaginitis is good. Chronic courses usually require surgery.
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