Intersection syndrome in Buriram Hospital: a 4-yr prospective study

To determine the prevalence, demographic characteristics, symptoms, treatment, and outcome of patients who presented to Buriram Provincial hospital and were diagnosed with intersection syndrome.

This was a 4-yr prospective study that included all patients with new complaints of forearm and hand pain who presented to Buriram hospital as inpatients or outpatients.

The prevalence of intersection syndrome was found to be 0.37% of all patients (8080) with arm or hand pain. Of the 30 patients presenting with intersection syndrome, all had forearm pain, 22 (73.3%) had swelling, and 12 (40%) had crepitus noted in the intersected region. Fourteen (46.7%) patients reported pain provoked with twisting hand motions with radial deviations, 4 (13.3%) with pulling, and 12 (40%) with combinations of multiple hand movements (threshing, planting, hammering, hand washing, spraying and cementing). The majority of the patients were male (70%) farmers (60%). Twenty-nine patients received nonoperative treatment, including modified work activities to reduce stress on the wrist, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, and analgesic medications. One patient received only analgesic medication. One patient additionally required a resting hand splint. Every patient was seen for follow-up within the next 7 days. By 12-18 months posttreatment, there were only 14 patients (46.6%) remaining in follow-up, none with any symptom recurrence.

Intersection syndrome is a relatively uncommon, overused syndrome that is associated with repeated radial deviation of the wrist and responds favorably to conservative treatment.