Splinting vs Exercise in De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
Comparison of Static Hand-Wrist Splinting and Exercise Therapy in the Management of De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
Konya Beyhekim Training and Research Hospital
40 participants
May 29, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
De Quervain's disease is a painful tenosynovitis of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis muscle tendons located in the first dorsal compartment. The primary treatment for De Quervain's disease is conservative; surgical intervention is rarely required. Currently, there is no standardized treatment protocol supported by strong, up-to-date evidence. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a static hand-wrist resting splint and exercise therapy in the conservative treatment of De Quervain's tenosynovitis. Patients will be evaluated in terms of pain levels, functional/symptom status, hand-finger strength, pressure pain threshold (PPT), tendon cross-sectional area measured by ultrasound, and the presence of effusion findings (semiquantitative; 0-3), and patient satisfaction.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- Adults aged between 18 and 65 years
- Patients experiencing wrist pain and tenderness for less than 3 months and clinically diagnosed with acute or subacute De Quervain's tenosynovitis
- Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score ≥ 3
Exclusion Criteria12
- History of trauma
- Wrist fractures
- Local infection
- Presence of rheumatologic diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis)
- Presence of symptomatic hand osteoarthritis
- Continuous use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids
- Receipt of physical therapy for the hand or wrist within the past 3 months
- Corticosteroid injection into the hand or wrist within the past 3 months
- Diagnosed with significant neurological disorders (e.g., upper motor neuron disease)
- Presence of uncontrolled systemic diseases (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, hepatic failure)
- Major psychiatric disorders
- Communication difficulties
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Interventions
static wrist-hand splint + education on activity modification and positioning in daily life
Home-based Exercise Therapy + Education on activity modification and positioning in daily life
Locations(1)
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NCT06995534