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Tenosynovitis
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	M65.
ICD-9	727.0
DiseasesDB	31136
MedlinePlus	001242
eMedicine	emerg/571
MeSH	D013717

Tenosynovitis is the inflammation of the fluid-filled sheath (called the synovium) that surrounds a tendon. Symptoms of tenosynovitis include pain, swelling and difficulty moving the particular joint where the inflammation occurs. When the condition causes the finger to "stick" in a flexed position, this is called "stenosing" tenosynovitis, commonly known as "Trigger Finger."

It usually occurs with tendinitis and it is related to stenosing tenosynovitis.

Treatment

Treatments for tenosynovitis depend on the severity of the inflammation and location. Mild tenosynovitis causing small scale swelling can be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as diclofenac (marketed as Voltaren and other trade names), taken to reduce inflammation and as an analgesic. Physical or Occupational therapy may also be beneficial in reducing symptoms.

More acute cases are treated with cortisone (steroid) injections, then a course of paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain. Outpatient surgery can be used to enlarge the synovium. The sprained tendon or limb is splinted for a week or so.

Causes

Causes of tenosynovitis are unknown. Repeated use of hand tools can precede the condition, as well as arthritis or injury. Tenosynovitis sometimes runs in families and is generally seen more often in males than in females. The causes for children are even less well known and have a recurrence rate of less than 1-5% after treatment.

Tenosynovitis is also linked to reactive arthritis caused by bacteria such as Neisseria gonorrhoae.

Exams and tests

A physical examination shows swelling over the involved tendon. The health care provider may touch or stretch the tendon or have you move the muscle to which it is attached to see whether you experience pain.^[1]

See also

• Synovitis
• DeQuervain's syndrome
• Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema

References

External links

• [1]
• RSI - Repetitive Strain Injury and Occupational Overuse Syndrome
• Tenosynovitis - Tendon Sheath Inflammation
• [2] Go to this link to read this article which reports how excessive use of mobile phones - especially due to texting frequently - can cause Tenosynovitis. This research comes directly from the French Health Ministry.