A middle aged female presented with chief complaints of pain and tenderness along the base of thumb. The patient also had a previous history of chronic overuse of wrist. The doctor performed a test on the patient in which the doctor asked the patient to make a fist with the thumb inside and then bend the wrist towards the little finger which elicited pain. Which 2 tendons are involved in the above mentioned condition?
A middle aged female presented with chief complaints of pain and tenderness along the base of thumb. The patient also had a previous history of chronic overuse of wrist. The doctor performed a test on the patient in which the doctor asked the patient to make a fist with the thumb inside and then bend the wrist towards the little finger which elicited pain. Which 2 tendons are involved in the above mentioned condition?
💡 Explanation
**Core Concept**
The patient's symptoms and the positive test result suggest a diagnosis of De Quervain's tenosynovitis, a condition characterized by inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. This condition is often caused by repetitive strain or overuse of the wrist, leading to tendonitis and pain.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
De Quervain's tenosynovitis involves the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) muscles. The test performed by the doctor, known as the Finkelstein test, is a diagnostic maneuver that compresses these tendons against the radius bone in the wrist, reproducing the patient's pain. The APL and EPB tendons are responsible for thumb abduction and extension, respectively, and are commonly affected in De Quervain's tenosynovitis.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** The flexor pollicis longus (FPL) tendon is not involved in De Quervain's tenosynovitis, as it is located on the opposite side of the wrist and is responsible for thumb flexion.
**Option B:** The extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon is also not involved, as it is located on the dorsal aspect of the wrist and is responsible for thumb extension.
**Option C:** The palmaris longus tendon is not involved in De Quervain's tenosynovitis, as it is a separate tendon that runs from the wrist to the palm and is not related to thumb movement.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
To diagnose De Quervain's tenosynovitis, the Finkelstein test is often performed, which involves the patient making a fist with the thumb inside and then bending the wrist towards the little finger. This maneuver compresses the APL and EPB tendons against the radius bone, reproducing the patient's pain.
**Correct Answer:** APL and EPB tendons.
✓ Correct Answer: C. Abductor pollicis longus and Extensor pollicis brevis
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