In 1895, a Swiss surgeon, Fritz de Quervain, published 5 case reports of patients with tender thickened first dorsal compartments at the wrist. The condition subsequently has borne his name. The disease is an entrapment tendinitis of the tendons contained within the first dorsal compartment at the wrist, resulting in pain with thumb motion.

De Quervain disease is caused by stenosing tenosynovitis of the first dorsal compartment of the wrist. The first dorsal compartment at the wrist includes the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and the extensor pollicis brevis (EPB). Patients with this condition usually report pain at the dorsolateral aspect of the wrist with referral of pain toward the thumb and/or lateral forearm. This condition responds well to nonsurgical treatment.

De Quervain tenosynovitis: Definition(s) via UMLS "Stenosing tenosynovitis of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons in the first dorsal wrist compartment. The presenting symptoms are usually pain and tenderness at the radial styloid. The cause is almost always related to OVERUSE INJURY or is associated with RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS." Source: Medical Subject Headings, 2007_2006_08_08

Madigan Army Medical Center Referral Guidelines for deQuervain's Syndrome Tendonitis/Tenosynovitis of the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus within the extensor sheath of the first digit.

Dequervain's tenosynovitis of the first dorsal extensor compartment is a common affliction in any hand practice.

Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics a stenosing tenosynovitis of APL & EPB tendons (first compartment) at the styloid process of the radius; - inflammation causes thickening & stenosis of synovial sheath of first compartment & pain w/ tendon movement; - most common in women between 30 and 50 years; - pts develop pain over radial styloid process (& sometimes forearm & thumb);

The patient, usually a middle-aged woman, has difficulty with tasks like opening jars because of pain at the base of the thumb, which may also be present upon awakening. On examination, there is little or no swelling and no deformity, just tenderness on palpating or stretching the extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus tendons bordering the palmar side, or less commonly, the extensor pollicis longus tendon bordering the dorsal side of the anatomic snuffbox.

Search string allintitle: dequervain