Symptomatic palmar tendon subluxation after surgical release for de Quervain's disease: a case report

Palmar subluxation of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons developed in a 50-year-old woman after total excision of the first dorsal compartment sheath for de Quervain's disease. Conservative therapy did not improve her symptoms and surgical reconstruction of the first dorsal compartment from a slip of extensor retinaculum was performed. The patient was asymptomatic 1 year after surgery, with no evidence of subluxation or recurrence of de Quervain's disease. This complication can be avoided by leaving a palmarly based flap of extensor retinaculum to prevent palmar subluxation of the tendons with wrist flexion.