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Snapping thumb: a rare case of stenosing tenosynovitis of the extensor pollicis longus tendon
Andrea Lund1, Pelle Hanberg2, Anders Ditlev Foldager-Jensen2
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark andrea2290@hotmail.com.
Abstract:
Tenosynovitis of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) is rarely reported in patients without rheumatoid arthritis but may lead to thumb snapping as a consequence of EPL stenosing tenosynovitis.This case presents painful thumb snapping that developed after a wrist trauma and repetitive loading. Ultrasound and MRI were used as diagnostic tools, before surgical release of the EPL in the third extensor compartment was performed. Neither EPL tenosynovitis nor thumb snapping were found at follow-up.
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