Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Setup for the Quantitative Assessment of Motion and Muscle Activity During a Virtual Modified Box and Block Test
Published on: January 12, 2024
de Quervain disease: US identification of anatomic variations in the first extensor compartment with an emphasis on
Soo-Jung Choi1, Jae Hong Ahn, Young-Jun Lee
1Department of Radiology, Asan Foundation, Gangneung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 415 Bangdong-ri, Sacheon-Myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do 210-711, Korea. sjchoi@gnah.co.kr
Purpose:
To demonstrate the usefulness of ultrasonography (US) in the detection of anatomic variations in the first extensor compartment of the wrist in patients with de Quervain disease.
Materials And Methods:
The institutional review board approved this study protocol and waived the informed consent requirement. Fifteen wrists in 13 women (age range, 41-62 years) in whom de Quervain disease was clinically diagnosed and who underwent surgery for intractable pain were included. A musculoskeletal radiologist performed US before surgery. The absence or presence and extent of subcompartmentalization within the first extensor compartment and the number of abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendon slips were evaluated and recorded. Preoperative US findings were compared with surgical records and photographs.
Results:
Subcompartmentalization within the first extensor compartment was observed during surgery in 11 of the 15 wrists (73%), including four (27%) that had subcompartmentalization only in the distal portion of this compartment. US was used to identify all 11 wrists showing subcompartmentalization within this compartment (sensitivity, 100%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 74%, 100%), as well as three of the four wrists with distal incomplete subcompartmentalization. There was one wrist with false-positive distal incomplete subcompartmentalization. US had a positive predictive value in the detection of subcompartmentalization of 73% (95% CI: 47%, 91%). The number of tendon slips in this compartment detected with US was identical to that identified at surgery with one exception.
Conclusion:
US can be used to depict various types of anatomic variations in the first extensor compartment in patients with de Quervain disease.
Related Concept Videos
Muscles of the Forearm that Move the Hand and Fingers
Anterior Compartment
The anterior compartment muscles originate from the humerus. They primarily function as flexors and are also known as flexor muscles. They typically insert on the carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges. The superficial layer includes the flexor carpi radialis,...
Bones of the Upper Limb: Radius
The radius has a nail-shaped head, and a short...
Bones of the Upper Limb: Ulna
Bones of the Upper Limb: Humerus
Muscles that Move the Forearm
Forearm Flexors
The biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis are forearm flexors. The biceps brachii is made up of two heads. Its long head originates at the supraglenoid tubercle of the scapula, whereas that of the short head is...
Development of the Limb Synovial Joints
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...
