The anatomy and surgical treatment of De Quervain's Disease

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 1998;3(1):59-64.
Published online January 1, 1998.

Duke Whan Chung,In Ho Jeon,Hyung gu Kwon

De Quervain씨 병의 해부학적 고찰과 수술적 치료

정덕환,전인호,권형구

Abstract

We have studied the anatomical findings at operation on 14 patients(16 wrists) with de Quervain's disease who had failed in conservative treatment ; steroid injection, medication or immobilization. There was division with a septum in the first extensor compartment in 69%. The abductor pollicis longus or extensor pollicis brevis had more than two tendon in 50% and more than three tendons in 19%. These feature might readily result in the failed conservative treatment, especially steroid injection and inadequate decompression of the compartment in the treatment of de Quervain's disease. We have taken the completely surgical release of a septum within the first dorsal compartment and decompression of anomalous tendons with successfully complete pain relief in 16 wrists (100 %). We concluded that a septum and an anatomical abnomality of tendons are mainly responsible for the failure of conservative treatment, especially steroid injection. So the surgical release is the preferred treatment in the de Quervain's disease with uncontrollable in conservative treatment.