From the Research
Treatment Options for Flexor Carpi Ulnaris (FCU) Tendinitis
- Conservative management with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, rest, splinting, and steroid therapy is recommended for acute calcific tendinitis of the FCU 1
- Surgical treatment may be considered when there is acute neural compression and severe pain, as seen in a case report of a 64-year-old woman with acute calcific tendinitis of the FCU 1
- Surgical debridement of the pathologic tendinosis tissue is an effective treatment for patients with FCU tendinopathy who fail nonsurgical management, with excellent pain relief reported in all cases 2
- Pisiform excision is a treatment option for refractory FCU tendinopathy, with improved symptoms and function reported in patients who have undergone this procedure 3
- Corticosteroid injections are a common nonsurgical treatment for FCU tendonitis, with benefits well studied and documented in the medical literature 4
Surgical Techniques
- FCU tendon debridement is a surgical technique used to treat FCU tendinopathy, with the excised tendon examined histologically to confirm the diagnosis of degenerative tendinosis 2
- Pisiform excision is a surgical technique used to treat refractory FCU tendinopathy, with the goal of improving symptoms and function in patients who have failed conservative treatment 3
Nonsurgical Management
- Immobilization, corticosteroid injections, and hand therapy are nonsurgical management strategies for tendinopathies around the hand and wrist, including FCU tendinitis 5
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, rest, and splinting are also recommended for conservative management of acute calcific tendinitis of the FCU 1