Treatment Outcomes of de Quervain’s Disease among 52 Patients with Average 3.2 Year Review

Introduction: De Quevain’s disease (DD) is a Stenosing tenovaginitis involving the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) within the first extensor compartment of the wrist. Despite great interest in the condition, the aetiology and pathology of this interesting disease remain unclear. Tenolysis is the surgical treatment in the majority of patients following 4 to 6 weeks of non-operative treatment trial. The study aims to report the outcome of both conservative and operative treatment of 52 patients in the study. Materials and method: This is a retrospective study of 52 patients that was conducted at Orthopaedic Hospital Wamakko, Sokoto, Nigeria, from May 2015 to September 2021. Patients with de Quervain’s disease were first treated conservatively either on oral analgesics alone or in combination with physiotherapy, steroid injection, or both for 4 to 6-week period before tenolysis was considered. Results: The average follow-up period was 3.2 years (range 2.4 to 6.2). The average age of presentation was 31years (range 20 to 67years). There were 16(31%) males and 36(69%) females. Majority of patients were housewives (21/40%) and falls within the age range of 20-40 years with 31(61%) patients. The affected side was 28(54%) on the left and 2(46%) on the right; 31(69%) were idiopathic, 8(15%) were associated with diabetes mellitus, 5(6%) occupational, 3(6%) with a history of trauma, 3(6%) with rheumatoid arthritis, and 2(%) with pregnancy. Out of total of 52 patients in the study, 47 (90%) were operated and 5(10%) were completely treated by non-operative management. The short-term postoperative complications that resolved few weeks following treatments were wound infections (4), superficial radial nerve neuritis (2), and Hypertrophic scar (2). Conclusion: A more reliable long-term outcomes of treatment of patients with de Quervain’s disease is by tenolysis as the conservative treatment may fails after a 4 to 6 weeks period of trials. Key words: de Quervain’s disease, tenolysis, treatment outcome, first extensor compartment