Surgery for De Quervain syndrome

De Quervain syndrome is the inflammation of the tendon sheath (tunnel) that surrounds the tendons of thumb muscles (abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis). The surgical treatment involves cutting the sheath.

• significant reduction or complete elimination of pain during thumb movement,
• restoration of full thumb movement function.

The decision on your surgery is taken during a pre-operative visit when a doctor assesses your eligibility, orders necessary tests and evaluates your general wellbeing. If there are no contraindications, the date of the procedure is set.

• Two weeks before the procedure you should have the following tests done: full blood count, electrolyte test, coagulation test, blood type, glucose, creatinine, Hbs antigen, ANTI-HCV.
• If you have any non-orthopaedic conditions, please provide a certificate from a relevant specialist that there are no contraindications for the procedure.
• Seven days before the surgery you should discontinue anticoagulants, such as Acenocumarol or Sintron.
• You should not eat or drink for 6 hours before the procedure.

• The most frequent form of anaesthesia is the spinal block or local anaesthesia.
• The procedure lasts from 20 to 40 minutes depending on the site.

• You will stay in hospital for 24 hours.