De Quervain's Disease: A Discourse on Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Since Fritz De Quervain first postulated stenosing tenosynovitis within the radial dorsum of the wrist, much research has been conducted to provide further insights. De Quervain's Disease (DQD) is a condition that affects the tendons that control the movement of the thumb, specifically the abdu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 15; no. 4; p. e38079
Main Authors:	Fakoya, Adegbenro O, Tarzian, Martin, Sabater, Enrique L, Burgos, Daiana M, Maldonado Marty, Gabriela I
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Cureus Inc 24-04-2023 Cureus
Subjects:	Anatomy Cadavers Etiology Fingers & toes Inflammation Medical diagnosis Pathogenesis Pathology Patients Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Tendons Tumor necrosis factor-TNF Women de quervain’s disease wrist hyperflexion and abduction of the thumb test (what) eichnecoff abductor pollicis longus finklestein stenosing tenosynovitis first dorsal compartment extensor pollicis brevis
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Summary:	Since Fritz De Quervain first postulated stenosing tenosynovitis within the radial dorsum of the wrist, much research has been conducted to provide further insights. De Quervain's Disease (DQD) is a condition that affects the tendons that control the movement of the thumb, specifically the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis. Numerous studies have shown that structural divergence from normal anatomy is partly related to contingency for developing DQD. Even though this condition was discovered many years ago, its exact etiology remains a subject of debate. Two schools of thought exist, one that contends an inflammatory-mediated pathway and the other degenerative changes. Substantial evidence exists for both theories, thus necessitating further studies into the etiology of DQD. Classically, Finkelstein's and Eichhoff's tests have been used as the physical examinations of choice for clinically diagnosing this condition. However, these tests have been shown to have low specificity, hence, the emergence of the wrist hyperflexion and abduction of the thumb test. Evidence also suggests that ultrasonography may become a critical diagnostic tool, especially to identify anatomical variations before invasive treatment, reducing the risk of further complications. The management of DQD is typically conservative, with escalation to steroid injections before surgery is indicated. Future research into this disease should focus on establishing a clearer picture of how anatomical variations and other pathological and occupational factors may interplay to bring about this condition. While current research has suggested possible novel approaches for diagnosing and treating DQD, more studies are required to gain greater insights into the effectiveness of these interventions.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 ObjectType-Review-1
ISSN:	2168-8184 2168-8184
DOI:	10.7759/cureus.38079