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. 2015 Sep 30:9:437-44.
doi: 10.2174/1874325001509010437. eCollection 2015.

The Effectiveness of Corticosteroid Injection for De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis (DQST): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Patrick Rowland  1 , Nigel Phelan  1 , Sean Gardiner  1 , Kenneth N Linton  2 , Rose Galvin  3
Affiliations

The Effectiveness of Corticosteroid Injection for De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis (DQST): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Patrick Rowland et al. Open Orthop J. .

Abstract

De Quervain's stenosing tenosynovitis (DQST) treatments include corticosteroid injection around the tendon sheath; however there is some ambiguity concerning the efficacy of this treatment. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine the totality of evidence relating to the use of corticosteroid injection in DQST when compared to placebo or other active treatments. A systematic literature search was conducted in July 2014. Only randomized control trials (RCTs) were included. Outcome measures included impairment, activity limitation and participation restriction. Five RCTs were identified with 165 patients, 88 in the treatment group and 77 in the control group.Patients who received corticosteroid injection (n=142) had a higher rate of resolution of symptoms [RR 2.59, 95% CI: 1.25 to 5.37, p=0.05, I2=62%]. This group reported greater pain relief as assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at first assessment [mean difference -2.51, 95% CI: -3.11 to -1.90, p=0.0003, I2=65%] and demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in function (n=78) as measured by the DASH score and Dutch AIMS-HFF score [SMD -0.83, 95% CI: -1.54 to -0.12, p=0.02, I2=48]. This review confirms that corticosteroid injection results in a statistically significant increase in resolution of symptoms, pain relief and increased function in the treatment of DQST.

Keywords: De Quervain; corticosteroid injection; meta-analysis; review; stenosing tenosynovitis; systematic.

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Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
PRISMA flow diagram of studies in the review.
Fig. (2)
Fig. (2)
Proportion of participants who demonstrated full recovery following trial.
Fig. (3)
Fig. (3)
Differences in mean pain between the groups at first assessment post-injection.
Fig. (4)
Fig. (4)
Subgroup analysis of the differences in mean pain between the groups at first assessment post-injection in trials that used placebo injection.
Fig. (5)
Fig. (5)
Differences in mean disability between the groups at first assessment post-injection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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