FUNCTIONAL DIAGNOSTICS AND PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT IN DE QUERVAIN SYNDROME

Introduction

De Quervain syndrome is an inflammatory condition involving the narrowing or inflammation of the synovial membrane of the common tendon sheath of the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and the extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) in the region of the radial styloid process. Tendon sheaths have the shape of the tube covering muscle tendons. They consist of two layers composed of laminae – external fibrous and internal – synovial. Tendon sheaths reduce friction and facilitate the sliding movements of the tendon on the bone. They also maintain their proper position against the bone [1]. The condition occurs in 0.5% of working men and 1.3% of working women. It is more common in women going through menopause, pregnancy or the postpartum period. It does not have to involve the dominant hand [2]. The cause of the condition has not been fully explained [3]. De Quervain syndrome can be caused by microtraumas that occur in the course of repetitive mechanical activities as well as systemic diseases of the connective tissue, such as rheumatoid arthritis [1]. The name of the condition comes from Fritz de Quervain who was the first to describe it in 1895 [4]. The syndrome is often referred to as “mother’s thumb” because it occurs more frequently in breastfeeding women. It is associated with strain that is put on tendons when carrying a child and the swelling of soft tissues, fluid retention and flaccid ligaments, which are the consequence of pregnancy hormones [5]. Increasingly younger people are at risk of tenosynovitis due to the development of modern technology and the frequent use of cell phones, tablets and consoles by children and adults [6-8]. Ali and colleagues showed that frequent texting is associated with the occurrence of de Quervain syndrome among students [6]. The first symptom of de Quervain syndrome is peritonitis or tenosynovitis. Followed by fibrosis and thickening, a secondary inflammatory and repair reaction of the retinaculum of the first extensor compartment occurs. The retinaculum can be damaged and regenerated multiple times as the condition progresses, which in turn leads to the formation of a degenerated scar. Pain is caused by an oversized and fibrotic retinaculum, which is too flexed because of the pressure from the tendons, during the extension and flexion of the wrist and thumb [2]. Physiotherapeutic treatment is an important element of conservative treatment of de Quervain syndrome. About 40% of patients suffering from this condition are referred to a physiotherapist by their GP [9]. Therefore, there is a strong need to look for the most effective physiotherapeutic methods and their combinations to treat this syndrome. The article aims to present functional diagnostics and physiotherapeutic methods that are used in the treatment of de Quervain syndrome based on the available literature.

Diagnostics

Diagnostic examination begins with an interview in which attention should be paid to information correlated with repeated overstraining of the upper limb. Patients tend not to remember the immediate moment of damage, and the problem develops gradually. An important piece of information concerns the occurrence of forearm pain at the height of the radial styloid process which increases during the extension of the thumb. Other symptoms include redness and swelling in the region. [1]. The physical examination most often involves two tests: Finkelstein’s test and Eichhoff’s test. Finkelstein’s test has long been recognized as a pathognomonic symptom of de Quervain syndrome. Most clinicians perform this test erroneously using the Eichhoff’s test methodology [10]. During Finkelstein’s test, the patient’s wrist should be on the edge of a table and the hand off the tabletop. The patient is asked to perform an active adduction of the wrist joint towards the elbow and then the examiner grips the patient’s thumb and bends it passively towards the hand. Pain that occurs in the region of the first extensor tendon compartment is interpreted as a positive result of the test [6, 7, 10]. Eichhoff’s test begins with the patient actively placing the thumb in the palm and clenching the remaining fingers. The hand is then passively bent by the examiner in the direction of the elbow. The therapist can palpate the areas of the APL and EPB tendons while performing both tests. They should pay attention to any crackling, movement disorder and the shape of the tendons [10]. The disadvantage of both tests is the mechanism of stretching all soft tissues in the region of the first extensor compartment. This can cause pain symptoms in adjacent structures, such as ligaments [11]. In addition, Eichhoff’s test can cause pain coming from the structures of joints. Both tests can also trigger pain symptoms in healthy patients [10]. Wu et al. compared the sensitivity and specificity of both tests in a group of 36 patients. The presented results indicated that Finkelstein’s test shows greater sensitivity and specificity and is recommended by the authors to diagnose de Quervain syndrome [10]. The average level of reliability of the tests suggests that imaging tests may be helpful. Ultrasonography (USG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are most commonly used to diagnose peritonitis. When performing an ultrasound examination, we initially observe an effusion in the tendon sheath and then synovial hypertrophy, fibrous changes and calcifications within the tendon sheath [1]. Differential diagnosis of patients with wrist pain in the area of the radial styloid process should also include C6 radiculopathy, wrist instability, fractures of the styloid process and degenerative changes in the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb and wrist joints. Radiological tests may be helpful in these cases [12]. Physiotherapeutic treatment Acute phase Physiotherapeutic treatment of de Quervain syndrome is divided into three main sections – kinesitherapy, physical therapy and therapeutic massage. This division was employed in the following review and it was also expanded to include physioprophylaxis and education, kinesiotaping and acupuncture. All the publications have been grouped and presented in Table 1.

Kinesitherapy

Eccentric exercises In the course of treating de Quervain syndrome, eccentric exercises and free active exercises aimed at improving the sliding between the APL and EPB tendons are used first [13-15]. They are done in a pain-free range. As the patient’s pain tolerance increases the range of motion is also increased. In the case study carried out by Papa, the author recommended eccentric exercises of thumb extension and abduction, wrist flexion and extension as well as forearm pronation [14]. The effectiveness of eccentric training in combination with other forms of therapy was also confirmed by the case study described by Howell [12]. Rabin and colleagues also presented a combination of eccentric and strength exercises combined with mobilization with movement (MWM). They obtained satisfactory treatment results in 3 out of 4 patients [15]. The McKenzie method (MDT) In the case study described by Kaneko and coauthors, MDT (mechanical diagnosis and therapy) exercises developed by McKenzie were used. The female patient performed 10-20 repetitions of the exercise every three hours in a pain-free range. Two weeks after the start of therapy, the subject did not report any pain symptoms [16]. Babaji and Shinde compared the effectiveness of the exercises in the McKenzie concept (MDT) with the administration of platelet rich plasma (PRP). The authors divided 60 patients into four groups, each of which participated in ultrasound and cryotherapy treatments. Group B additionally did McKenzie exercises, group C received PRP, and group D did both the exercises and were injected with PRP. After three weeks of therapy, it was noted that the combination of physical therapy, exercise and PRP (group D) was significantly more effective in reducing pain and improving the range of thumb mobility compared to the methods used in the other groups [17]. Virtual reality rehabilitation games Electronic devices such as tablets and smartphones as well as specialized programmes in the form of rehabilitation computer games can be used to treat the syndrome nowadays. In this context, the importance of increased motivation to achieve therapeutic goals is emphasized. The task of rehabilitation using electronic devices is to restore lost motor functions of the hand. This includes doing specific exercises requiring, among others, repeated movements with the possibility of feedback as a form of additional stimulation and motivation. The authors of some studies emphasized that it is necessary to personalize exercise programmes and adapt them to the stage and advancement of de Quervain syndrome [18, 19]. Manual therapy In the case study described by Backstrom, a patient with de Quervain syndrome underwent mobilization with movement (MWM) in combination with ionophoresis, cryotherapy and deep transverse friction massage (DTFM). The specific MWM techniques that were used involved active thumb and wrist movements as well as passive radial slide of wrist bones in the proximal row [20]. Mobilization with movement was also used in a number of cases described by Rabin et al. [15].

Physiotherapy

Laser therapy Laser therapy is one of the most commonly used physiotherapeutic treatments in physiotherapy. The laser reduces the conduction of pain stimuli in afferent fibres as well as vasodilatory and angiogenic effects. This results in the improvement of peripheral circulation and microcirculation. Collagen synthesis and enzyme regulation processes are also stimulated [21]. In their study, Sharma and colleagues evaluated the effectiveness of treatment with a low-level energy laser. The subjects were randomly assigned to the placebo group (n=15) and the study group (n=15) in which a continuous beam of 2-4 J/cm2 was used. After the end of the treatment, the authors noted significant alleviation of pain symptoms and increased grip strength among the patients in the study group, while there was no improvement in the placebo group [22]. Ultrasound Research conducted by Babaji et al. as well as the study by Katana and coauthors showed that the use of ultrasound in patients with de Quervain syndrome helped to alleviate pain and reduce tonicity [13,17]. This method uses ultrasonic waves that are applied in a given area to improve circulation, reduce swelling and promote tissue and tendon healing [17]. The treatment parameters are selected individually, but the most publications recommends the frequency of 3MHz and a dose from 0 to 2.0 W/cm [17, 23]. Hasan and Fauzi evaluated the effectiveness of phonophoresis with 2.5% ketonal in the treatment of de Quervain syndrome in women in the third trimester of pregnancy in combination with splints and exercise. The authors used ultrasound, splints and training in the control group. They observed obvious and statistically significant differences in favour of the phonophoresis group [24]. Electrotherapy As evidenced by the available literature, electrotherapy in the form of diadynamic therapy, iontophoresis and TENS was used only as one of the forms of therapy correlated with other procedures [13, 20, 25]. The positive effect of the treatment was statistically significant in all the studies. Low-frequency magnetic field Magnetic fields are widely used in the physiotherapeutic treatment of muscular and joint problems. The impact of a magnetic field is based on its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. It also increases oxygen utilization processes and blood flow through tissues [21]. The case study presented by Machnia and colleagues talked about a patient with de Quervain syndrome who was treated with a low-frequency electromagnetic field with complex parameters. Four weeks after the beginning of the magnetotherapy (7 days after the last treatment session), the subject did not report any pain. However, the authors drew attention to the strong need to individualize the parameters of the treatment [26]. Statistically significant improvement was also noted by Katana et al. who used a magnetic field as an element of a combination therapy in patients with chronic conditions [13]. Cryotherapy Local effects of cold in the first phase include reduction of conductivity in sensory nerves and angioneurotic changes [21]. These effects may support the treatment process in de Quervain syndrome by alleviating symptoms accompanying inflammation. The available literature shows that cryotherapy was used as a combination therapy with other physical therapy treatments, manual therapy and eccentric training [12, 13, 17]. Some authors reported a statistically significant reduction in the level of pain and an improvement in the functional level among the patients [13, 17].

Therapeutic massage

Some authors recommend a soft tissue massage in the first tendon compartment [12]. It aims to relax the muscles and improve fluid drainage and reduce swelling. Massage as one of the elements of combination therapy was used in the studies by Katana and colleagues. The authors recommended its use only in the case of chronic conditions [13]. In the studies by Homayouni et al., and Backstrom, deep transverse friction massage (DTFM) was used in combination with physiotherapeutic treatments [25]. DTFM is one of the manual therapeutic techniques described by James Cyriax. The task is to preserve tissue mobility and to prevent the formation of adhesions and scars in the healing structure [27]. A satisfactory therapeutic effect was observed in both cited publications [20, 25].

Physioprophylaxis and education

Huisstede and colleagues indicated the need, especially in the acute state, to avoid movements that cause pain. These movements included flexion of the thumb and adduction of the wrist joint. It was also recommended to avoid repetitive movements in these joints [28]. It is necessary to educate the patient on how to perform daily activities and to provide them with instructions on how to modify activities that are associated with the occurrence of the syndrome, e.g. mother holding a child so that it is safer. It is worth considering ergonomic keyboards and device modifications that allow for neutral positioning of the wrist joint in the case of office workers [28-30].

Kinesiotaping

Kinesiology tape is considered to be a conservative method for treating de Quervain syndrome. It is used to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation [31]. Orthoses used in orthopaedic treatment immobilise inflamed tissues, providing protection for damaged structures. However, too long immobilization can lead to secondary, negative physiological and biomechanical changes in the tissue. Kinesiology tape makes it possible for the healing tissues to move and, depending on the taping technique, it can support movement and increase lymphatic drainage of tissues [32]. However, there are no clear guidelines in the literature on how to use the tape and how long it should be used. Kacmaz et al. used kinesiotaping once a week for one month in 20 patients who were diagnosed with de Quervain syndrome. After the treatment, the authors reported a statistically significant reduction in the level of pain and disability [33]. Homayouni and colleagues conducted studies comparing the effectiveness of kinesiotaping (n=30) and physiotherapeutic treatments (n=30). The authors noted statistically greater reduction in pain and swelling in the group of patients who used kinesiology tape [25]. Case study described by Howell proposed the use of kinesiotaping in combination with manual therapy and eccentric training [12]. Taking into account the ways in which kinesiotaping works, this method should be considered in terms of protecting damaged structures and replacing elastic bandage or orthoses. Jongprasitku and colleagues compared the effectiveness of an elastic bandage and an orthosis in the treatment of the syndrome. Both groups consisted of 20 participants, who wore a bandage or an orthosis for a minimum of six hours per day for a period of 2 weeks. The authors did not report statistically significant differences between the groups during this period [34].

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is also mentioned among the methods for treating de Quervain syndrome. Traditional Chinese medicine was recognized by the World Health Organization as a conventional form of treatment in 2019. Hadianfard et al. compared the effectiveness of de Quervain syndrome treatment with corticosteroid injections (n=15) and acupuncture (n=15). Both methods significantly reduced pain and improved functionality. Injections showed greater effectiveness, and the authors recommended acupuncture for consideration as a supportive therapy [35]. This suggestion is confirmed by the case study described by Howell, in which acupuncture brought good treatment results in connection with manual therapy techniques and eccentric exercises [12].

Remission phase

Physiotherapeutic procedures in the form of warm compresses, partial baths of the upper limb at 35-37°C, hydro-massage baths and showers with rain heads can be used during the remission phase of de Quervain syndrome [36-38]. Balneotherapy with mud and therapeutic mud is also used during the treatment process due to the anti-inflammatory, astringent and hyperaemic effects [36-38]. There are no publications describing the treatment of de Quervain syndrome in the remission phase.

Conclusions

De Quervain syndrome is a condition that reduces the life quality of patients due to the occurrence of significant pain and limitations in their everyday functioning. Physiotherapy is one of the options for conservative treatment characterized by low invasiveness and low costs. It should be noted that physiotherapeutic methods used in isolated form are just as effective as corticosteroid injections. This conclusion was indicated in the metaanalysis by Cavaleri and colleagues [39]. An important factor that should be considered is the combination of different forms of physiotherapy. Unfortunately, there are a small number of randomized clinical trials. Hence, it is difficult to draw definite conclusions. Further research is required in order to achieve the integration of the most effective physiotherapeutic methods in the treatment of de Quervain syndrome and the assessment of its short and long-term effects.

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