6. Tendovaginites, types and management

From greek.doctor
  • Tenosynovitis = tendovaginitis = inflammation of a tendon and its synovial sheath
  • Females > males
  • Etiology
    • Repetitive use of tendon
    • Rheumatological diseases
    • Bacterial infection
  • Tendons of the fingers and wrist are most commonly affected
  • Clinical features
    • Pain on passive extension of affected tendon
    • Finger slightly flexed at rest
  • Special types
    • Stenosing tenosynovitis (trigger finger)
      • Thickening of one of the annular pulleys causes the finger to be locked in a flexed position
      • Idiopathic
      • Mostly affect ring finger or thumb (trigger thumb)
    • De Quervain tenosynovitis
      • Thickening of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis
      • Due to repetitive abduction and extension of the thumb
      • Causes swelling of radial styloid process
  • Treatment
    • Surgical incision of the affected tendon