Ultrasound versus palpation-guided corticosteroid injection for de Quervain disease: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Corticosteroid injection effectively treats de Quervain disease, and due to the high prevalence of the intracompartmental septum in the first extensor compartment, ultrasound guidance improves injection accuracy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness, adverse events, and the recurrence rate between ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided injection in patients with de Quervain disease.

DESIGN: Prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

SETTING: Rehabilitation department of a private teaching hospital.

PARTICIPANTS: We enrolled 49 patients, ≥20 years of age, clinically diagnosed with de Quervain disease based on their medical history and physical examination.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized into two groups: ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided injection. Both groups received a mixture of 10 mg triamcinolone acetonide (10 mg/1 mL) and 0.3 mL 1% lidocaine.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) score at 1 week. The secondary outcome measures were visual analog scale for pain (pain VAS) score, patient satisfaction, and adverse events or complications from the interventions at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months.

RESULTS: Both groups showed improvement over time in QuickDASH scores and pain VAS (p < .001); however, no statistically significant differences were noted between the groups for either QuickDASH scores (p = .22) or pain VAS (p = .30). In addition, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of patient satisfaction (p = .76) and adverse events (p = .47, .33, .58) at the 1-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups.

CONCLUSIONS: Both ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided injections effectively treated de Quervain disease. During a 6-month follow-up, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in pain relief, upper limb function, or patient satisfaction. However, the palpation-guided group showed a tendency for more recurrence and skin side effects.