MIAMI, Jan. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Get a grip! That's more than a matter of emotion for people with De Quervain's tenosynovitis, a thumb-tendon disorder. In fact, gripping anything can mean sheer pain, according to orthopedic surgeon Alejandro Badia MD, who says the condition limits a person's ability to grasp, grip and pinch; inhibits use of the hand; and limits range of motion in the wrist.
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is characterized by inflammation and swelling of two main tendons that pass through a narrow tunnel located on the thumb side of the wrist and control thumb movement, explains Dr. Badia. He is a specialist in treating musculoskeletal disorders of the hands, wrists and other upper limbs.
Named after Swiss surgeon Fritz de Quervain, the disorder is sometimes referred to as "mommy wrist" because it occurs eight-to-10 times more frequently in women and its development is linked to post-partum hormonal- and fluid-shift changes – not to activities involving carrying, changing or feeding the new baby, as some experts contend, Dr. Badia states.
"Hormonal changes after a woman gives birth can lead to thickening and water retention of the tenosynovium, the sheath covering the thumb's tendons, which are located in what is an anatomically-tight tunnel or compartment," he says.
Experts concur. For example, authors of a report in the journal, Hand, contend that "soft tissue edema, fluid retention, and ligamentous laxity are common effects of pregnancy, [and these] can impact the [body's] inflammatory response" and lead to conditions like thumb tendonitis.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons describes tendons as "rope-like structures that attach muscle to bone and are covered by a slippery thin soft-tissue layer – the synovium." The synovium is what enables the thumb tendons to glide readily through the tunnel. Any swelling or thickening of the tendons impacts their movement and can cause pain, says Dr. Badia, founder and chief medical officer of the Florida-based Badia Hand to Shoulder Center and OrthoNOW®.
Common symptoms of the disorder are pain and swelling at the base of the thumb or on the thumb side of the wrist, a sensation of "sticking" or "snapping" when moving the thumb and difficulty or pain, including pain that travels up the forearm, when attempting to grasp or "pinch" something forcefully. Physicians can diagnose the problem using ultrasound or simply applying physical pressure to the affected area by causing deviation of the wrist while maintaining the patient's thumb in a fully flexed position -- a technique called Finkelstein's test.
Some scientists believe that advanced technology, including frequent use of the thumb to punch out text messages or play video games, is one reason for a growing prevalence of De Quervain's tenosynovitis – or tendonitis. At least one medical journal has referred to the problem as "texting tenosynovitis." But repetitive movements involving the thumb, including work-related activities like extended typing on a computer keyboard, gardening and carpentry, are less a "cause" of the disorder and more an "aggravation of a painful condition that is already present," Dr. Badia says.
In addition to gender, pregnancy and post-partum hormonal changes, injury to the thumb, age (40 and above) and inflammatory arthritis are primary risks for De Quervain's tenosynovitis.
Conservative therapy approaches -- anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections and splinting -- are normally first lines of treatment for the condition. However, surgery may be required in cases of persistent disease – and pain, Dr. Badia says.
Most recently, in a December 2019 study published in Musculoskeletal Surgery, investigators state that "surgical release of De Quervain's tenosynovitis remains the gold standard treatment."
Dr. Badia agrees. "The surgical procedure is easy to perform and readily done on an outpatient basis. Recovery is quick, with patients having immediate use of their hand, although the return to heavy manual work or sports-related activities, including workouts in the gym, might be delayed two-to-three weeks," he states.
Of course, the best treatment for De Quervain's tenosynovitis is prevention, Dr. Badia says. He offers these tips to limit risk for developing the disease:
- Avoid awkward or unnatural wrist positions and alignments when engaged in work or recreational activities.
- Take frequent breaks from tasks requiring repetitive movement.
- Do exercises that enhance strength and mobility of wrist joints and hands.
- Use other fingers – not just the thumb -- for keystrokes when typing or texting.
- Follow guidelines of good nutrition and get ample sleep. A healthy lifestyle helps keep joints, ligaments and tendons lubricated and provides them with the necessary nutrients to repair and rebuild themselves.
"Above all, for any joint problems or other musculoskeletal disorder, contact an orthopedic specialist," Dr. Badia emphasizes. "The specialist can make the diagnosis much faster, with superior resolution of the clinical problem, and at much less cost, utilizing less testing and imaging studies, than primary care or hospital ER physicians."
Alejandro Badia, MD, FACS, internationally renowned hand and upper-limb surgeon and founder of Badia Hand to Shoulder Center and OrthoNOW®, a walk-in orthopedic care clinic. He is a member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Association for Hand Surgery and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and an honorary member of many international professional hand societies. Dr. Badia specializes in treating all problems related to the hand and upper extremities, including trauma, sports injury, joint reconstruction, nerve injuries and arthroscopic surgeries. Go to http://www.OrthoNOWcare.com and http://www.drbadia.com.
SOURCE Dr. Alejandro Badia
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