Is Pulley Reconstruction Better Than Pulley Release for De Quervain's Tenosynovitis? A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Management of de Quervain Tenosynovitis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Importance

There is a plethora of treatment options for patients with de Quervain tenosynovitis (DQT), but there are limited data on their effectiveness and no definitive management guidelines.

Objective

To assess and compare the effectiveness associated with available treatment options for DQT to guide musculoskeletal practitioners and inform guidelines.

Data Sources

Medline, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Central, Scopus, OpenGrey.eu, and WorldCat.org were searched for published studies, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.gov, The European Union Clinical Trials Register, and the ISRCTN registry were searched for unpublished and ongoing studies from inception to August 2022.

Study Selection

All randomized clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of any intervention for the management of DQT.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

This study was prospectively registered on PROSPERO and conducted and reported per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension Statement for Reporting of Systematic Reviews Incorporating Network Meta-analyses of Health Care Interventions (PRISMA-NMA) and PRISMA in Exercise, Rehabilitation, Sport Medicine and Sports Science (PERSIST) guidance. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations tool were used for risk of bias and certainty of evidence assessment for each outcome.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Pairwise and network meta-analyses were performed for patient-reported pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and for function using the quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (Q-DASH) scale. Mean differences (MD) with their 95% CIs were calculated for the pairwise meta-analyses.

Results

A total of 30 studies with 1663 patients (mean [SD] age, 46 [7] years; 80% female) were included, of which 19 studies were included in quantitative analyses. From the pairwise meta-analyses, based on evidence of moderate certainty, adding thumb spica immobilization for 3 to 4 weeks to a corticosteroid injection (CSI) was associated with statistically but not clinically significant functional benefits in the short-term (MD, 10.5 [95% CI, 6.8-14.1] points) and mid-term (MD, 9.4 [95% CI, 7.0-11.9] points). In the network meta-analysis, interventions that included ultrasonography-guided CSI ranked at the top for pain. CSI with thumb spica immobilization had the highest probability of being the most effective intervention for short- and mid-term function.

Conclusions and Relevance

This network meta-analysis found that adding a short period of thumb spica immobilization to CSI was associated with statistically but not clinically significant short- and mid-term benefits. These findings suggest that administration of CSI followed by 3 to 4 weeks immobilization should be considered as a first-line treatment for patients with DQT.

De Quervain's tenosynovitis: a non-randomized two-armed study comparing ultrasound-guided steroid injection with surgical release

PURPOSE

Ultrasonography is currently used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in de Quervain's tenosynovitis. There is a dearth of information on how effective an ultrasound-guided (USG) steroid injection is when compared to surgical release of the first extensor compartment. Hence, we performed a non-randomized two-armed comparison study to test our hypothesis that USG guided steroid injection is equally effective as surgery.

METHOD

62 consecutive patients participated in the study with 32 of them selecting the option of USG guided injection (Set A), and the rest undergoing surgical release (Set B). We reviewed them after 3 and 6 weeks and 6 months for functional outcome using DASH, PRWE and VAS scores, recurrence, or any complications. They were further followed if they were symptomatic.

RESULTS

The DASH/PRWE/VAS scores improved at the end of 6 months from 81.7/79.3/6.8 to 1.0/1.7/1.0, respectively for patients undergoing USG guided steroid injection. Similarly, for the patient undergoing surgery, the scores improved from 82.2/81.5/6.7 to 1.7/3.4/1.0, respectively. This was statistically significant in both the groups (p < 0.05) and was comparable to each other. Two patients in Set A came back with recurrence at eight and 10 months and two reported occasional pain on heavy work. Three patients had tenderness and two had numbness in Set B at the scar site.

CONCLUSION

We observed that USG guided steroid injections are comparable to surgical release in terms of pain relief, functional outcome, complications.

Pulley Reconstruction Following Surgical Release of DC1 Pulley in De Quervain's Tenosynovitis: Surgical Technique and Case Series

De Quervain's disease (DQD) is tenosynovitis of the first dorsal compartment (DC1) of the wrist between the osteofibrous tunnel and the tendons involving the APL and EPB sheaths at the radial styloid. Surgical intervention is indicated when pain does not resolve despite 3 to 6 months of conservative management. Release of the first dorsal compartment is an effective treatment of DQD. In addition to surgical release, we performed pulley reconstruction using a new technique in the present series of 20 patients which has not been previously described with a followup of over 1 year. All patients showed a consistent improvement in VAS score at over one year followup with resolution of Finkelstein, Eichoff and WHAT test. Only one temporary neuropraxia was encountered due to stretching/scar entrapment of superficial branch of radial nerve. Our innovative technique of pulley reconstruction is not only easy to understand and perform but has shown consistent result in the 20 cases operated with this technique with a follow up of at least 1 year. The technique has the distinct advantage of having a quick learning curve and gives reliable, lasting results without complications or recurrence.