Surgical Decompression of Resistant Cases of DeQuervain's Disease

DeQuervain's disease of the first dorsal compartment of the wrist, is a common wrist pathology, pain results from resisted gliding of the abductor pollicis longus and the extensor pollicis brevis tendon in the fibroosseous canal. Management of resistant cases of DeQuervain's disease with failed conservative treatment treated by surgical decompression yield satisfactory outcomes. A large number of patients being dissatisfied with the medical treatment, still present with persistent pain and positive clinical finding. Surgical decompression is an effective method for the treatment of resistant cases of DeQuervain's disease. Outcome variables were measured by Scheller, Forget and Macey evaluation criteria. Most of our patients were female 28(93.3%), housewife 17(56.7%) with mean age of 41.57 years, ranging from 25-60 years. Right sided involvement was 20(66.7%) and Left sided involvement was 10(33.3%). Restricted movement of thumb in 30(100%) were the predominant symptoms. One (3.3%) patient develop chronic tenosynovitis, 1(3.3%) patient develop hypertrophic scar. There was no wound infection in the follow-up period of 3-18 months. Satisfactory results were found in 29(96.7%).