Proliferative extensor tenosynovitis of the wrist in the absence of rheumatoid arthritis.

PURPOSE

Proliferative tenosynovitis in the fourth extensor compartment is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It may also occur in the absence of rheumatoid arthritis; the purpose of this study is to describe this clinical condition in a series of patients, to report the results of surgical intervention, and to compare histological findings to those typically seen in rheumatoid tenosynovitis.

METHODS

This study presents a retrospective case series of 11 patients who do not have rheumatoid arthritis, who had proliferative tenosynovitis of the fourth extensor compartment treated surgically. Relevant features of the clinical presentation, physical examination, radiographic findings, and results of attempts at conservative treatment are described. Surgical pathology specimens were reviewed by a single pathologist to define common histological features and to compare the histology to that which is classically seen in rheumatoid tenosynovitis.

RESULTS

All patients presented with a painful wrist mass over the fourth extensor compartment. Characteristic in physical examination was severe limitation of active wrist extension with the fingers extended, with improvement when the fingers were flexed into a fist. After tenosynovectomy, wrist extension and grip strength improved. Examination of the surgical pathology specimens revealed a spectrum of pathological findings generally consistent with traumatic tenosynovitis, but a few specimens had rheumatoid-like features.

CONCLUSIONS

A review of this case series of patients with tenosynovitis but without rheumatoid arthritis demonstrates a distinct clinical condition of exuberant proliferative extensor tenosynovitis blocking proximal tendon excursion, thereby causing pain and limited active wrist extension, as well as a less distinct histological condition with a constellation of findings generally resembling traumatic tenosynovitis. In this group of patients, surgical tenosynovectomy generally yields excellent results.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic IV.