[Tendinitis of the long palmar muscle tendon. Physiopathology and results of surgical treatment. Apropos of 28 cases].

The results of a 27 cases of flexor carpi radialis tenosynovitis, operated between 1984 and 1992 and followed for an average of 30 months, are reported. This study confirms the female predominance of this disease (25 women for two men) and its development mainly after the age of fifty. Pain along the course of the tendon is a constant sign, frequently associated with dysaesthesia in the territory of the palmaris brevis branch of the median nerve as well as synovial swelling. Surgery was indicated because of failure of apparently correctly conducted medical treatment. The technique consists of synovectomy and resection of all sources of irritation of the tendon in its sheath. The development of trapezium or scaphoid osteophytes is a common cause of irritation. The functional result obtained was good or excellent in 22 cases. This study confirmed the existence of a close relationship between the development of flexor carpi radialis tenosynovitis and the presence of external osteoarthritis of the carpus, as this combination of lesions was observed in 20 of the 27 cases. Carpal osteoarthritic lesions appear to be responsible for the great majority of cases of flexor carpi radialis tendinitis observed in women over the age of 50 years. Following failure of medical treatment, surgical treatment is effective provided it includes treatment of any osteoarthritic lesions present.