De Quervain's Release

A female patient with de Quervain’s tenosynovitis presented with pain and swelling over the radial styloid, corresponding to the first dorsal extensor compartment containing the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendons. Clinical localisation differentiated this from scaphoid pathology and first carpometacarpal joint arthritis.

1. Under regional block and upper-arm tourniquet control at 250 mmHg
2. The first extensor compartment sheath was released proximally
3. The sensory nerves remained intact