A New Factor in the Etiology of Chronic Nonspecific Tendovaginitis in the Wrist

Abstract

The most frequent sites of tendovaginitis of the dorsal side of the hand are the first and third compartments. In the first compartment, the tendons of m. extensor pollicis brevis and abductor poll, longus are involved and the disorder is best known under the name de Quervain's disease. In the third compartment, the tendon to m. extensor poll. long, is involved and the damage to this tendon usually manifests itself as a rupture. Local chronic irritation is considered to be one of the causes of the damage but it is not known clearly why these disorders primarily occur in middle-aged women. In the present material comprising women above the age of 50, an account is given of roentgenologically observed local bone and joint overgrowths which would appear to favour the development of the above-mentioned chronic, mechanical irritation of tendons and tendon sheaths. These new bone formations are regarded as part of a general growth disturbance which the author is referring to as involutional acromegaly.