De Quervain tendinopathy is one of the most common wrist pathologies .It is a condition that affects the 1st compartment of the wrist, resulting in stenosing tenosynovitis. The condition causes thickening of the sheaths that encompass the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendons as they traverse through their fibro-osseous tunnel, which is located along the radial styloid.
De Quervain tendinopathy usually affects females, more than males, aged 30-50 years. Risk factors include overuse, such as knitting, sewing, dish washing, and phone texting. It can also occur post traumatic, or postpartum.
Patients usually present with radial-sided wrist pain aggravated by thumb and wrist movement. Patients face difficulty in performing daily tasks such as opening a jar lid and lifting objects. pain over the radial styloid along with fusiform swelling are appreciated as well.
Diagnosis can be made clinically by the presence of radial sided wrist pain along with swelling. Special tests such as Finkelstein test, Eichhoff test, and WHAT test aid in the diagnosis. X-rays are of no diagnostic but may show generalized signs and can aid in ruling out other causes of pain such as fracture, and arthritis. Ultrasound and MRI scans are the diagnostic radiological modalities for this condition