Idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome and de Quervain’s tenosynovitis: is there an association?

Abstract

Aim

In this study, we aimed to investigate frequency of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis (DQT) in patient with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (ICTS).

Material and methods

We evaluated 356 hands of 310 patients who applied with the pre-diagnosis of ICTS. Patients who have pain over the radial styloid, pain on movement, tenderness over the first dorsal extensor compartment and also positive Finkelstein’s test were accepted clinically DQT. Presence of DQT was confirmed by ultrasonography. Motor and sensory conductions of median and ulnar nerves were studied in every hand with the pre-diagnosis of ICTS.

Results

We determined ICTS in 302 (85%) hands. De Quarvain’s tenosynovitis ratio was found to be 9.9% in hands with ICTS (n:302). In patients with ICTS and DQT in the same hand, the male-to-female ratio is 1/3. There were 29 cases (22 female, 7 male) with ICTS and DQT. Of the 30 hands with ICTS and DQT together; 18 had mild, nine had moderate, and 3 had severe ICTS.

Conclusion

This is the first study that evaluates the DQT and ICTS together. We found that patients with ICTS have a prevalence higher than normal population to have DQT. We suppose that considering DQT in patients with the pre-diagnosis of ICTS during clinical evaluation has a positive impact on clinical follow-up and treatment of these patients.

Keywords:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• de Quervain’s tenosynovitis
• electroneuromyography

Acknowledgement

The authors thank Bahadır Alemdaroğlu, Proffesor of orthopedics and traumatology for his contributions.

Disclosure statement

There is no conflict of interest for any author(s).

Additional information

Funding

No specific funding was received from any bodies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors to carry out the work described in this article.