"Postpartum/newborn" de Quervain's tenosynovitis of the wrist

De Quervain's tenosynovitis is a common wrist ailment involving the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons of the first dorsal compartment. Etiology is thought to be overuse or trauma. The specific entity of "postpartum/newborn" de Quervain's tenosynovitis has not been described in the orthopedic literature. Affected individuals in the setting of infant care tend to be younger (33 years) and to have bilateral involvement; they may or may not be the birth mothers. Nonoperative treatment was successful in most (77%) of the postpartum/newborn cases reviewed here; operative treatment was successful in the rest.