de Quervain's stenosing tenosynovitis in a video games player

This report describes a patient who developed signs and symptoms of de Quervain's stenosing tenosynovitis after prolonged playing with video games. An analysis of the biomechanics of video games playing indicates that grasping the joystick controller produces tension on the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendons, and that video games playing requires many rapid, repetitive thumb and wrist movements which stress the APL and EPB tendons. It is concluded that prolonged playing with video games should be considered as an etiologic factor in patients with de Quervain's stenosing tenosynovitis.