Objective: To suggest different ultrasound-guided steroid injection (USI) techniques based on anatomical variations of the first extensor compartment (FEC), and to evaluate the usefulness of it, in patients with de Quervain's disease.
Materials and methods: Twenty-eight patients who underwent USI for de Quervain's disease were included. Anatomical variations were classified into complete sub-compartmentalization (n = 11), distal incomplete sub-compartmentalization (n = 5), and no sub-compartmentalization (n = 12) on ultrasound. Involved sub-compartments were recorded in patients with complete sub-compartmentalization. USIs were performed based on the anatomical variations: in both sub-compartments (n = 2) or only in the affected sub-compartment (n = 9) depending on the location of tenosynovitis involvement, in patients with complete sub-compartmentalization; in proximal FEC in patients with distal incomplete sub-compartmentalization (n = 5); in the common compartment in patients with no sub-compartmentalization (n = 12). Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for evaluation of clinical outcome at follow-up visits.
Results: Twenty-three out of 28 patients were followed up with a mean period of 31.2 days after injection (6~87 days). Mean VAS was 7.96 before injection (range: 4 to 10), which was significantly reduced to 0.65 at rest and 1.57 during activity at follow-up visits (p < 0.05). Twenty-two out of 23 patients were satisfied with the results. The mean proportion of subjective pain reduction was 82.0% (median 95%).
Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided steroid injections using different injection techniques based on the anatomical variations of the FEC have shown to be beneficial in the management of de Quervain's disease.
Keywords: Anatomical variation; De Quervain’s disease; Ultrasonography; Ultrasound-guided steroid injection; Wrist.