The purpose of this study was to find clinical or ultrasound characteristics that might predict the failure of conservative treatment in de Quervain's syndrome. A total of 42 ultrasound-guided injections have been performed in 41 patients after clinical and ultrasound examination. Patients were immobilized for 3 weeks with a spica splint cast, and clinically evaluated at 3 and 6 weeks and by phone call at the end of the study. Ultrasound showed a septum between the tendons of the first comportment in 34% of the wrists. At last follow-up (mean 15.6 months after the injection) ten patients (24%) had undergone surgery. When comparing ultrasound and clinical characteristics of the operated and non-operated wrists, we found that patients with a high baseline visual analogue scale, with all positive clinical tests and with a persistent intracompartmental septum, had a significantly higher risk of failure following conservative treatment.
Level of evidence: III.
Keywords: De Quervain’s syndrome; prospective study; steroid injection; ultrasound-guided injection.
© The Author(s) 2015.