How is De Quervain’s tenosynovitis treated?

This swelling over the dorsum of the interphalangeal joint (IPJ) of the thumb appears to be a mucous cyst. A mucous cyst is a fluid-filled balloon arising from the IPJ of the thumb. It is commonly associated with wear-and-tear, or osteoarthritis, of the IPJ of the thumb. Overuse and increased motion in the IPJ may cause more joint fluid to fill this cyst, which in turn causes an increase in: pain, redness and swelling at this site. Unfortunately, the only effective treatment for a mucous cyst is surgery.

The most common cause of the symptoms described is trigger finger. Trigger finger is a condition where the tendons controlling flexion of the digit become inflamed and swollen. As these tendons glide in and out within a fitting tunnel called a tendon sheath, any increase in girth of these tendons can disrupt the smooth gliding action. Trigger finger is categorized into 4 grades. Grade 1 trigger finger: Initially, the additional friction from the swelling of the tendons cause pain when moving the finger.