De quervain’s tenosynovitis

Cause, clinical and ultrasound findings

• Chronic overuse due to repetitive movements of the thumb (typists, mothers feeding babies) or athletic activities (tennis, golf) may cause tendinopathy of the first compartment extensor wrist tendons.

• Pain and palpable swelling at the affected area may be observed.

• Thickening and hypoechogenicity of the extensor retinaculum, enlargement of the tendons, heterogenous/hypoechoic appearance of the tendon and synovial tissue with or without neovascularity in and around the tendon may be seen (chronic phase). The tendon sheath may be distended with fluid distally to the retinaculum level (acute phase). Stenosing tenosynovitis may show no fluid.