Making a Splint for De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is a painful condition which affects two tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. Inflammation of the tendons and tenosynovium is known as tenosynovitis. In De Quervain’s, the inflammation affects the movement of the thumb.
In our video, team member Zoe is being fitted with a custom split by hand therapist Chloe as part of her treatment for De Quervain's. This splint keeps the wrist and lower joints of the thumb from moving. This allows the affected tendons to rest and and reduce her pain, so she can then start an exercise program to strengthen the tendons.
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis is usually caused from overuse or poor hand and wrist posture. Repetitive thumb motions such as pinching, squeezing or grasping can also cause the condition. So too can holding your hand at an angle which compresses the tunnel and rubs the tendon.
Common De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis symptoms include:
Soreness of the forearm, near the wrist
Pain in the wrist and thumb
Burning sensation in the hand
Swelling over the thumb side of the wrist
Difficulty gripping
A physical examination of the area is the first step in assessing De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis. From here, your Melbourne Hand Rehab hand therapy practitioner will probably conduct specialised tendon testing.
Treatment for De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis includes:
Splinting
Avoiding aggravation to reduce inflammation
Education around avoiding sideways movements of the wrist and thumb
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