Work related etiology of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis: a case-control study with prospectively collected data

BACKGROUND: The etiology of de Quervain's tenosynovitis (dQ) has been based on conflicting small case series and cohort studies lacking methodological rigor. A prospective case-control study was conducted to analyze the most common risk factors for dQ. METHODS: Between January 2003 and May 2011, 189 patients surgically treated for dQ vs. 198 patients with wrist ganglia (WG) (controls) were identified in our clinic’s electronic database. Sample characteristics, exertional, anatomical, and medical risk factors were compared between groups. RESULTS: dQ vs. WG differed by average age (52 vs. 43 years) and gender ratio (15/62 vs. 26/39). No significant difference between dQ vs. WG was found after subgrouping professional activities (manual labor: 18 % vs. 26 %, respectively, p = 0.23). No asymmetric distribution of comorbidities, wrist trauma, forceful or repetitive manual work, or medication was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Neither heavy manual labor nor trauma could be shown to be predisposing risk factors for dQ.