Is De Quervain's (De Quervain's tenosynovitis) tenosynovitis the same as first extensor compartment tenosynovitis?

De Quervain's Tenosynovitis and First Extensor Compartment Tenosynovitis Are the Same Condition

Yes, De Quervain's tenosynovitis and first extensor compartment tenosynovitis are identical terms referring to the same clinical entity—stenosing tenosynovitis affecting the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) tendons within the first dorsal compartment of the wrist. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Anatomic Definition

• The first dorsal (extensor) compartment of the wrist contains specifically the APL and EPB tendons within their shared retinacular sheath 3, 4, 6
• De Quervain's disease is precisely defined as stenosing tenosynovitis of this first dorsal compartment, making the terms anatomically synonymous 5
• The condition involves non-inflammatory thickening of the tendinous sheath leading to entrapment and increased friction of these tendons 3

Clinical Nomenclature

• The eponymous term "De Quervain's tenosynovitis" honors Swiss surgeon Fritz De Quervain who described this condition 3
• Medical literature uses both terms interchangeably, with "first extensor compartment tenosynovitis" being the anatomically descriptive term and "De Quervain's" being the eponymous designation 1, 2, 5
• Guidelines from the American College of Radiology refer to this condition as "De Quervain disease (stenosing tenosynovitis of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendon compartment)" explicitly linking both terminologies 1, 2

Important Anatomic Variations

• A septum or subcompartmentalization within the first dorsal compartment occurs in 43.7% of normal anatomy but 62.2% of De Quervain patients 7
• Preoperative identification of these septal variations with ultrasound is critical for surgical planning, as incomplete release can occur if surgeons are unaware of separate EPB subcompartments 1, 2, 7
• The number of APL tendon slips varies, with single slips more common in De Quervain patients (27.2%) compared to normal anatomy (18.3%) 7

Diagnostic Imaging Terminology

• Ultrasound reports describing "first extensor compartment" pathology are diagnosing De Quervain's tenosynovitis 1, 2
• The American College of Radiology guidelines consistently use both terms to describe the same imaging findings: thickened hypoechoic tenosynovial sheath around APL and EPB tendons 1, 2