Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The anatomy of the fibrous and osseous components of the first extensor compartment of the wrist: a cadaveric study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

De Quervain disease is the stenosing tenosynovitis of the first extensor compartment of the wrist. It is diagnosed with a history of pain at the radial aspect of the wrist and a positive Finkelstein test. Although anatomic variations, such as a septum within the compartment, are considered as risk factors, bony anatomy of distal radius and its correlation with the septa are studied scarcely in the literature.

Methods

We dissected 50 wrists of 26 cadavers. Presence and location of a septum within the compartment was evaluated. We also observed the grooves at distal radius and their relation to the first extensor compartment and its content.

Results

The septum was absent in 23 wrists (46 %). A septum was present in 27 (54 %) wrists (15 incomplete 30 %, 12 complete 24 %). At the distal radius, we classified three radial groove types as Type 1 on 28 (56 %), Type 2 on 14 (28 %), and as Type 3 on 8 (16 %) wrists. There was a statistically significant relation between complete type of septa and Type 1 grooves (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

We investigated the bony structures of the compartment along with its content and we believe our results might guide clinicians who diagnose and treat de Quervain tenosynovitis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aktan ZA, Ozturk L, Calli IH (1998) An anatomical study of the first extensor compartment of the wrist. Kaibogaku Zasshi 73:49–54

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Alemohammad AM, Yazaki N, Morris RP, Buford WL, Viegas SF (2009) Thumb interphalangeal joint extension by the extensor pollicis brevis: association with a subcompartment and de Quervain’s disease. J Hand Surg Am 34:719–723. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2008.12.015

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Choi SJ, Ahn JH, Lee YJ, Ryu DSi, Lee JH, Jung SM, Park MS, Lee KW (2011) de Quervain disease: US identification of anatomic variations in the first extensor compartment with an emphasis on subcompartmentalization. Radiology 260:480–486. doi:10.1148/radiol.11102458/-/DC1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Dang AC, Rodner CM (2009) Unusual compression neuropathies of the forearm, Part I: radial nerve. J Hand Surg Am 34:1906–1914. doi:10.1016/j.jhsa.2009.10.016

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Gonzales MH, Sohlberg R, Brown A, Weinzweig N (1995) The first dorsal extensor compartment: an anatomic study. J Hand Surg Am 20:657–660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Gousheh J, Yavari M, Arasteh E (2009) Division of the first dorsal compartment of the hand into two separated canals: rule or exception? Arch Iran Med 12:52–54

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Harvey FJ, Harvey PM, Horsley MW (1990) De Quervain’s disease: surgical or nonsurgical treatment. J Hand Surg Am 15:83–87

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ilyas A, Ast M, Schaffer AA, Thoder J (2007) de Quervain tenosynovitis of the wrist. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 15:757–764

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Jackson WT, Viegas SF, Coon TM, Stimpson KD, Frogameni AD, Sımpson JM (1986) Anatomical variations in the first extensor compartment of the wrist. J Bone Joint Surg Am 68:923–926

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kay NRM (2000) De Quervain’s disease: changing pathology or changing perception? J Hand Surg Br 25B:65–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Kulthanan T, Chareonwat B (2007) Variations in abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons in the Quervain syndrome: a surgical and anatomical study. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg 41:36–38. doi:10.1080/02844310600869720

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Mahakkanukrauh P, Mahakkanukrauh C (2000) Incidence of a septum in the first dorsal compartment and its effects on therapy of de Quervain’s disease. Clin Anat 13:195–198

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Minamikawa Y, Peimer CA, Cox WL, Sherwin FS (1991) de Quervain’s syndrome: surgical and anatomical studies of the fibroosseous canal. Orthopedics 14:545–549

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mirzanli C, Ozturk K, Esenyel CZ, Ayanoglu S, Imren Y, Aliustaoglu S (2012) Accuracy of intrasheath injection techniques for de Quervain’s disease: a cadaveric study. J Hand Surg Eur 37:155–160. doi:10.1177/1753193411409126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Moore JS (1997) De Quervain’s tenosynovitis: stenosing tenosynovitis of the first dorsal compartment. J Occup Environ Med 39:990–1002

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Motoura H, Shiozaki K, Kawasaki K (2010) Anatomical variations in the tendon sheath of the first compartment. Anat Sci Int 85:145–151. doi:10.1007/s12565-009-0070-x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Petit Le Manac’h A, Roquelaure Y, Ha C, Bodin J, Meyer G, Bigot F, Veaudor M, Descatha A, Goldberg M, Imbernon E (2011) Risk factors for de Quervain’s disease in a French working population. Scand J Work Environ Health 37:394–401. doi:10.5271/sjweh.3160

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Richie CA, Brimer WW (2003) Corticosteroid injection for treatment of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis: a pooled quantitative literature evaluation. J Am Board Fam Pract 16:102–106. doi:10.3122/jabfm.16.2.102

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Roy AJ, Roy AN, De C, Banerji D, Das S, Chatterjee B, Halder TC (2012) A cadaveric study of the first dorsal compartment of the wrist and its content tendons: anatomical variations in the Indian population. J Hand Microsurg 4:55–59. doi:10.1007/s12593-012-0073-z

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Rousset P, Vuillemin-Bodaghi V, Laredo JD, Parlier-Cuau C (2010) Anatomic variations in the first extensor compartment of the wrist: accuracy of US. Radiology 257:427–433. doi:10.1148/radiol.10092265

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Shiraishi N, Matsumura G (2005) Anatomical variations of the extensor pollicis brevis tendon and abductor pollicis longus tendon—relation to tenosynovectomy. Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn 82:25–30

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Tanaka S, Petersen M, Cameron L (2001) Prevalence and risk factors of tendinitis and related disorders of the distal upper extremity among U.S. workers: comparison to carpal tunnel syndrome. Am J Ind Med 39:328–335

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Volpe A, Pavoni M, Marchetta A, Caramaschi P, Biasi D, Zorzi C, Arcano G, Grassi W (2010) Ultrasound differentiation of two types of de Quervain’s disease: the role of retinaculum. Ann Rheum 69:938–939. doi:10.1136/ard.2009.123026

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Walker-bone K, Palmer KT, Reading I, Coggon D, Cooper C (2004) Prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb in the general population. Arthritis Rheum 51:642–651. doi:10.1002/art.20535

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Witt J, Pess G, Gelberman RH (1991) Treatment of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. A prospective study of the results of injection of steroids and immobilization in a splint. J Bone Joint Surg Am 73:219–222

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Xiao L, Li YK, Ye GH, Yang XW (2012) Variations in the extensor grooves on the radial styloid process in Chinese population. Surg Rad Anat 35:49–53. doi:10.1007/s00276-012-0995-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank our donor-cadavers and their immediate families for their invaluable gifts and for making this research possible.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Millet Caddesi, Fatih, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ilke A. Gurses, Osman Coskun, Ozcan Gayretli, Aysin Kale & Adnan Ozturk

Authors
  1. Ilke A. Gurses
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Osman Coskun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ozcan Gayretli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Aysin Kale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Adnan Ozturk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ilke A. Gurses.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gurses, I.A., Coskun, O., Gayretli, O. et al. The anatomy of the fibrous and osseous components of the first extensor compartment of the wrist: a cadaveric study. Surg Radiol Anat 37, 773–777 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1439-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-015-1439-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation