Synonyms
- Tendinitis
- Peritendinitis
- Paratendinitis
Introduction
The disease known in medical terminology as tendovaginitis is an inflammation of the tendon sheaths. In most of the patients affected, it manifests itself by the appearance of strong, stabbing pain, which is intensified by movement and diminishes by immobilization. In principle, tendovaginitis can affect any tendon in the body. However, in everyday clinical practice, it is clear that tendons in regions of the body that are subject to heavy strain are particularly affected. Typical localizations of tendovaginitis are the ankle joints and wrists.
Causes
The causes of tendovaginitis can be very different. In the majority of cases, the occurrence of tendovaginitis can be attributed to overloading or incorrect loading of the joints. The reasons for the development of tendovaginitis can be divided into two main groups. In medicine, a rough distinction is made between non-infectious and infectious causes.
Infectious causes
In order to understand the causes of tendovaginitis, one must be aware of the structure and function of a tendon sheath. As a double-walled sheath filled with synovial fluid, the tendon sheath lies on the outside of the tendons. Roughly speaking, it consists of a tight layer of connective tissue (stratum fibrosum) and a synovial part (stratum synoviale).
In healthy people, the tendon sheath is a closed system that primarily performs a protective function. In addition, the tendon sheath is designed to absorb the forces and friction that occur during movement. Due to the structure of the tendon sheath, it is generally not possible in a healthy organism for the tissue to be damaged by pathogens (for example bacteria).
However, in the case of traumatic injuries, such as a stab wound, the barrier of the tendon sheath is penetrated and bacterial colonization is possible. Staphylococci and streptococci are among the most common bacterial pathogens that are considered to be the trigger of tendovaginitis. Furthermore, damage to the tendon sheath can also be caused by chlamydia, mycoplasma and gonococci. In this case, too, tendovaginitis can develop with strong, stabbing pain and limited joint function.
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