Work-Related De Quervain's Tensosynovitis (DQT): The Diagnosis Dilemma

A female presented with right wrist pain for nine months. The diagnosis was De Quervain's tenosynovitis; her condition was initially managed conservatively, but later she needed surgery due to the lack of improvement. No workplace intervention had been implemented because her hand surgeons did not consider her occupational exposures. It was later discovered that there was significant exposure to ergonomic hazards at her workplace. She received accommodations in her workplace that led to reduction of exposure to ergonomic hazards and the subsequent dramatic improvement in her condition. This case report indicates that some orthopedists do not appreciate the role of occupational exposure to ergonomic hazards in the pathogenesis of similar conditions. Occupational medicine specialists and orthopedists should, therefore, communicate with each other to reach a consensus regarding the association between occupational exposures to ergonomic hazards and work-related upper limb disorders (WRULDs).