De Quervain disease

Description

Chronic tenosynovitis that thickens the tendon sheaths of the abductor muscle long of the thumb and of the extensor short muscle of the thumb.

The Finkelstein test or modified Eichoff test can be used to confirm the diagnosis.

History

1893 – Paul Jules Tillaux described a painful crepitus sign (Aïe crépitant de Tillaux) – tenosynovitis of the adductor and the short extensor of the thumb.

1894 – Fritz de Quervain, on December 18, 1894, described tenosynovitis in Mrs. D., a 35-year-old woman who had severe pain in the extensor muscle region of the thumb, excluding tuberculosis.

“It is a condition affecting the tendon sheaths of the abductor pollicis longus, and the extensor pollicis brevis. It has definite symptoms and signs. The condition may affect other extensor tendons at the wrist.” [De Quervain F. 1895]

Associated Persons

Fritz De Quervain (1868 – 1940)
Paul Jules Tillaux (1834 – 1904) – (Aïe crépitant de Tillaux)

Alternative names

De Quervain disease
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
De Quervain’s syndrome
De Quervain’s tendovaginitis

Controversies

The term “de Quervain’s tenosynovitis” may be a misnomer. In fact, de Quervain credits Emil Theodor Kocher with the first description of the disease and first surgical treatment. [PMID 9316729]

References

De Quervain F. Clinical Surgical Diagnosis for students and practitioners – 1913 [English Archive text]
De Quervain F. Über eine Form von chronischer Tendovaginitis. Correspondenz-Blatt für Schweizer Aerzte, Basel, 1895, 25: 389-394. [PMID 15978320]
De Quervain F. On a form of chronic tendovaginitis. [Translated article: Cor-Bl.f.schweiz. Aerzrte 1895:25:389-94]. J Hand Surg Br. 2005 Aug;30(4):388-91. Epub 2005 Apr 2. [PMID 15978320]
De Quervain F. On a form of chronic tendovaginitis by Dr. Fritz de Quervain in la Chaux-de-Fonds. 1895. Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 1997 Sep;26(9):641-4.[PMID 9316729]