On the nature and treatment of stenosing tendovaginitis on the styloid process of the radius

1. Infemales inparticular, sometimes for no apparent reason, sometimes under the influence of over-work, there can occur a relative constriction of the tendovaginal chamber of the extensor pollicis brevis and of the abductor pollicis longus, which leads to more or less severe pain that radiates out towards the elbow and the thumb. These problems sometimes take the form of acute phases, sometimes a more chronic progression from the start. 2. Histologically, all that can be shown is a thickening of the wall of the tendovaginal chamber, without any inflammatory changes. 3. Infresh cases, treatment consists of the application of cold, immobilization, compression bandages; revulsion or heat treatment in longer-lasting cases; and open or subcutaneous division of the tendovaginal chamber invery intractable cases. Inall the cases that were operated onto date, and for which a report was obtainable, the cure was permanent. © 2005 Muenchener Medizinische Wochenschrift. Published by Elsevier Ltd. The British Society for Surgery of the Hand.