Outcome of Corticosteroid Injection in De Quervain's Tenosynovitis

Abstract

Background: De Quervain's tenosynovitis is a painful and swollen stenosing tenosynovitis of the first dorsal compartment of the wrist. After analysing the patient's medical history and doing a physical examination, a diagnosis is made. Finkelstein's test is almost always positive. Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of local corticosteroid injections in the treatment of de Quervain's tenosynovitis. Material & Methods: The study enrolled fifty patients with De Querven's Tenosynovitis. NSAIDs were provided orally and topically to all patients for an average of six weeks with no obvious improvement. Using a visual analogue scale, it was determined how much soreness would be felt in the first dorsal compartment and how much pain would be felt during the Finkelstein test. The edoema was removed by injecting a mixture of 1 mL (10 mg) triamcinolone-acetonide and 1 mL of 1% lidocain hydrochloride into the affected wrist's first dorsal compartment. They were subsequently examined every two weeks for twenty-four weeks. After a local triamcinolone acetonide injection, pain and discomfort on the radial side of the wrist were alleviated, and a negative Finkelstein test was done. Results: The mean age among the patients was 36.6 years with 12.4 SD. The maximum age was 60 years and the minimum age was 25 years old. The duration of symptoms in 4-8 weeks was observed, the mean value was 6 weeks with 1.4 as SD the minimum duration recorded was 4 weeks with 8 weeks as maximum duration. At the start of the week of appearance of symptoms the pain score was 6.44 with 1.6 as SD. The minimum pain score was 4 and maximum pain score was 8. Pain score at 4 weeks was 0.66 with 1.6 as SD. As per the independent t-test the p value was less than 0.05 so the test was significant statistically. Conclusion: One or two local steroid injections in the first dorsal compartment can give considerable pain and inflammation alleviation in people with de Quervain's tenosynovitis.