Introduction

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is one of the most common forms of stenosing tenosynovitis encountered by hand surgeons. This tenosynovitis was first described by De Quervain (1). De Quervain’s tenosynovitis causes radial wrist pain that increases with activity (2). Steroid injection into the tendon sheath is a standard method as a primary treatment in uncomplicated cases (3). Although steroid injection is common, complications such as subcutaneous atrophy, fat necrosis, weakening or rupture of tendons, and depigmentation have been reported after this treatment regimen (4-7). A surgical release that provides a precise and permanent solution in most cases is considered for steroid-refractory patients and for patients whose complaints last over six months (8,9). Since the rate of recurrence and complication is lower after surgical treatment, currently, it has been widely used.

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of open surgery versus steroid injection in patients with De Quervain’s tenosynovitis.

Materials and Methods

A total of 82 patients (65 females, 17 males) who were admitted between January 2013 and April 2015 were homogeneously divided into two equal groups. There were 42 patients (35 females, 7 males) in the first group and 40 patients (30 females, 10 males) in the second group. In the first group, open surgery was performed. In the second group, steroid injection was performed. An informed consent form was obtained from each patient. The study was approved by the Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Faculty of Medicine Ethics Committee and was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (protocol no: 2017/1018).

The patients were diagnosed by medical history and positive Finkelstein test results performed during physical examination. Finkelstein test was performed to trigger the pain that occurred by the ulnar deviation of the wrist, while the thumb was being locked in the palm, and it is one of the diagnostic criteria of the disease (10,11). An X-ray was obtained from each patient to differentiate arthritis of the thumb, metacarpophalangeal joints, and scaphoid-trapezium-trapezoid joints, arthrosis of radiocarpal and intercarpal joints, and fracture of the scaphoid. Extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) entrapment test was performed to the patients with recurrent disease after steroid injection. The sensitivity of the EPB entrapment test has been reported to be 81% in identifying patients having a separate septum for the EPB tendon with the failure of corticosteroid injection (12). The test consists of two parts. First, the patient is asked to bring the metacarpophalangeal joint to the forced extension. Second, the carpometacarpal joint of the patient is abducted by the examiner in a stretched manner. Pain during the second part of the test suggests that there may be a separate compartment for the EPB (12).

All open surgeries were performed under regional intravenous anesthesia. Tourniquet was applied to all patients to identify the sensory branches of the radial nerve carefully. During surgery, an oblique or transverse skin incision was performed over the first dorsal compartment, about 1-cm proximal to the radial styloid process. To identify the sensory branches of radial nerve passing obliquely over the compartment, deep layers of the skin were gently dissected longitudinally. After the skin and subcutaneous tissue were dissected, the annular ligament was finely incised with a scalpel. The release of the tendons of abductor pollicis longus (APL) and EPB in the proximal and distal was confirmed (Figure 1). In the case of another septal formation, it was also released. After hemostasis, the skin was anatomically closed with 4/0 prolene sutures. The wound was dressed, and a bulky bandage was applied. In the early postoperative period (on day 1), the dressings of the patients were made smaller to allow wrist movements easily, and serious training was given to the patients and their relatives about the frequent mobilization to maintain the range of motion of the joints completely. In this training, it was emphasized to bring the wrist to full flexion-extension with the support of analgesics, particularly in the early postoperative period.

In patients who underwent steroid injection, the injection was performed using a dorsoradial approach as a standard procedure. First, radial styloid was found, steroid injection was performed to the distal of the APL and EPB tendons, with a 45-degree angle towards the radial styloid (Figure 2). During injection, the presence of resistance indicated that it was on the tendon; therefore, the needle was withdrawn and injected around the tendon. After injection, active/passive extension and flexion movements were initiated.

In the postoperative period, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and oral antibiotic (amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium 1 g twice a day) were prescribed for one week. Dressings were changed every three days. Sutures were removed at the postoperative second week, and the patients were examined at 6, 12, 24 weeks, and one year. The recurrence rate and satisfaction after intervention were investigated in both groups using the 10-point Visual Analogue scale. The overall satisfaction rates were evaluated according to the scores of 10:1-3 very dissatisfied; 4-5 dissatisfied; 6-7 satisfied; ≥8 very satisfied.

Complications such as wound site infection, nerve injury, wound opening, and limited range of motions of the joints were evaluated in operated patients. Also, complications such as subcutaneous atrophy, fat necrosis, weakening or rupture of tendons, and depigmentation were evaluated in patients who underwent steroid injection.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed using the Number Cruncher Statistical System (NCSS) 2007 and Power Analysis, and Sample Size 2008 statistical software (NCSS, LLC; Kaysville, Utah, USA) program was used for statistical analysis. Descriptive data were primarily presented as means. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 40.3 years (range: 20 to 71). Demographic and clinical data of the patients are presented in the table (Table 1).

The mean follow-up was 12 months (range: 6 to 22). In the steroid injection group, recurrence was seen in eight patients (20%). Also, the EPB entrapment test was positive in eight patients with recurrence following steroid injection.

In our study, the Trigger thumb was also present in two patients who underwent surgery. Surgery of the trigger thumb was performed in the same session. No recurrence was observed in the surgery group. No severe complication occurred in any patient. Open surgery was performed in patients with recurrence. These patients did not recur after surgery.

All of the patients who underwent surgery indicated that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the surgical treatment (p=0.04). Ten patients who underwent steroid injection indicated that they were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. Two patients reported that they were dissatisfied due to severe pain after injection, although their complaints resolved. Eight patients were very dissatisfied due to recurrence (Table 2).

Discussion

There are many case series reporting that De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is common, particularly in females, between the third and fifth decades of life. Although some reports have shown that it most commonly involves the dominant hand, the relationship with this disease has not been fully clarified yet. However, the fact that the disease is seen less frequently in males and that the dominant hand is not related to this condition are the main reasons for uncertainty in the etiology of this disease (13). In our study, consistent with previous reports in the literature, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis was more common in female patients, and it most commonly affected the dominant hand. Also, the diagnosis of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is made radiographically. Ultrasonographic (USG) examinations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also be performed to identify anatomic variations in patients and to confirm the diagnosis (14,15). In our patients, USG and MRI were not performed, and the diagnosis was only based on radiographic findings with X-ray.

Many authors have suggested that the steroid injection into the tendon sheaths as the first-line treatment in De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is effective. In a study conducted by Harvey et al. (16), corticosteroids were administered to the patients once or twice, and success was achieved in 80% of the patients after a nine-year follow-up period. In the study mentioned above, 10 of 11 patients in whom treatment failed, APL and EPB tendons were found to be in separate compartments during surgical release. In another study, Witt et al. (17) reported that they achieved improvement in 62% of the patients after steroid injection. In a study in which patients were followed to three years, only 12% of the patients underwent surgery after the injection (18). Overall, these study findings indicate that the tendons are in separate compartments or showed separate septations in surgical patients in whom steroid injection failed (19-22). In our study, an improvement was achieved in 80% of the patients in the steroid injection group, and 20% of them needed surgery. This finding is consistent with the literature. The EPB entrapment test was also positive in patients with recurrence, and open surgery was performed to these patients, and no recurrence was seen (12).

In the literature, it has been reported that complications may occur, such as subcutaneous atrophy, fat necrosis, weakening or rupture of tendons, and depigmentation following steroid injection for the treatment of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis (4-7). In our study, no complications were seen in either group.

Furthermore, some authors have suggested that steroid injection is a part of treatment for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis; however, surgical intervention should be done when the non-surgical treatments are inadequate or when the patient is expecting a rapid and precise outcome (23). In a study by Lee et al. (24), 33 patients with De Quervain’s tenosynovitis underwent open surgery, and they reported that the results were very good after a six-year follow-up. Surgically, a transverse incision was used, and no complications were observed. Although the results are similar to our study, the length of follow-up time was reported in the literature.

Bouras et al. (25) reported in their series of 20 cases that the outcomes were close to perfect after open surgery, and they showed that complication was not seen using a longitudinal incision. Abrisham et al. (26) also reported that open surgery was superior, and a longitudinal incision was better than transverse incision after a five-year follow-up period. In our study, an oblique or transverse incision was used, and no complications were observed. Therefore, we suggest that, although the direction of surgical incision is critical, the attention of the surgeon also affects surgical success.

Complications such as wound site infection, nerve injury, wound opening, and limitation of range of motion of the joint can be seen following open surgery (27). Volar subluxation of tendons as a rare complication has also been reported in the literature. Altay et al. (28) performed partial excision of the extensor retinaculum during open surgery to avoid subluxation complications. They found that the results were consistent with the complete excision of the retinaculum, and no complications were observed. In our study, complete excision was performed, and no volar tendon subluxation was observed.

Study Limitations

The implications of this study are limited by its retrospective design and the relatively small number of patients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study results suggest that, although steroid injection is a treatment option for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, open surgery seems to be a more useful method with relatively low recurrence and complication rates.

Ethics

Ethics Committee Approval: The study was approved by the Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Faculty of Medicine Ethics Committee and was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki (protocol no: 2017/1018).

Informed Consent: An informed consent form was obtained from each patient.

Peer-review: Externally peer-reviewed.

Authorship Contributions

Surgical and Medical Practice: E.A., R.M., Concept: E.A., R.M., Design: E.A., R.M., Data Collection or Processing: E.A., Analysis or Interpretation: E.A., R.M., Literature Search: E.A., Writing: E.A.

Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Financial Disclosure: The authors declared that this study received no financial support.