The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
De Quervain's syndrome surgery
TENDON RELEASE SURGERY
Treating De Quervain's syndrome, a painful condition that affects the tendons between the thumb and wrist
About surgery for De Quervain's syndrome
De Quervain's syndrome (also known as De Quervain's tenosynovitis) is a painful condition that affects the tendons between the thumb and wrist. It occurs as a result of overuse of the tendons or a simple strain. The tendons and the sheath that surrounds them (the synovium) becomes inflamed.
Its main symptoms are pain and swelling near the base of the thumb and pain when moving the thumb or wrist. If you have the condition, it will probably hurt when you turn your wrist, grasp anything or make a fist. It is most common in women after pregnancy.
Your GP or consultant will assess the extent of your condition and diagnose using a Finkelstein test, where thumb and wrist movements are performed to detect pain.
If your consultant recommends surgery, its aim is to widen the tunnel the tendons sit in, so that they have more room to move. This is known as surgical decompression of the tendon tunnel.
Need to know
Mild cases usually recover in a few weeks without treatment. If steroid injections and wearing a wrist/thumb splint do not help, minor surgery may be recommended.
During the procedure, the consultant will make a small cut in the skin and widen the tendon sheath (tunnel). The tunnel roof forms again as the split heals, but is wider, giving the tendons enough room to move without pain.
The anaesthetic may be local (injected under the skin at the site of operation), regional (injected in the armpit to numb the entire arm) or a general anaesthetic (where you'll be asleep during the procedure).
Minor surgery for De Quervain's syndrome is generally a very safe procedure. However, as with any surgery, there are some risks and side effects involved.
Your consultant will explain these to you and answer any questions you might have.We will let you know in advance how long to avoid eating and drinking before your surgery.
After the procedure, you will be taken to the recovery unit where our dedicated team will look after you. Youll be given pain relief medication if needed. Minor surgery for De Quervain's syndrome is performed as a day case.
You wont need to stay in hospital long and should be able to go home after one day. Your consultant or specialist nurse will let you know when you can leave the hospital.They will also advise on how to manage your recovery and when you can get back to your usual daily routines.
ou will normally have to wear a bulky bandage and keep your hand elevated for two to three days. You may need to stay off work for one week.
Our De Quervain's syndrome locations
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.