Learn About Tenosynovitis
Tenosynovitis is inflammation of the lining of the sheath that surrounds a tendon (the cord that joins muscle to bone).
Inflammation of the tendon sheath
The synovium is the lining of the protective sheath that covers tendons. Tenosynovitis is inflammation of this sheath. The cause of the inflammation may be unknown, or it may result from:
- Diseases that cause inflammation
- Infection
- Injury
- Overuse
- Strain
The wrists, hands, ankles, and feet are commonly affected because the tendons are long across those joints. But, the condition may occur with any tendon sheath.
An infected cut to the hands or wrists that causes infectious tenosynovitis may be an emergency requiring surgery.
Symptoms may include any of the following:
- Difficulty moving the joint
- Joint swelling in the affected area
- Pain, swelling, and tenderness around the joint
- Pain when moving the joint
- Redness and pain that goes along the length of the tendon
Fever, swelling, and redness may indicate an infection, especially if a puncture or cut caused these symptoms.
The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Rest or keeping the affected tendons still is essential for recovery.
Your provider may suggest the following:
- Using a splint or removable brace to help keep the tendons from moving to aid healing
- Applying heat or cold to the affected area to help reduce pain and inflammation
- Medicines such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroid injection to relieve pain and reduce inflammation
- In rare cases, surgery to remove the inflammation around the tendon
Tenosynovitis caused by infection needs to be treated right away. Your provider will prescribe antibiotics either taken by mouth or through your veins. In severe cases, emergency surgery is needed to release the pus around the tendon.
Ask your provider about strengthening exercises that you can do after you recover. These may help prevent the condition from coming back.
Mikkel Ostergaard practices in Glostrup, Denmark. Mr. Ostergaard is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Tenosynovitis. His top areas of expertise are Tenosynovitis, Arthritis, Synovitis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
Aligned Orthopedic Partners
Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery and also in Hand Surgery, Dr. Bieber is interested in all areas of orthopedics, with a special interest in reconstruction, trauma, arthroscopy, and sports medicine of the upper extremity, including the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. He has expertise in arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder and shoulder replacement surgery. A graduate of Yale University and Georgetown Medical School, his orthopedic training was at Johns Hopkins University with a fellowship in hand and upper extremity at the Mayo Clinic. He is a consultant for hand and upper extremity surgery at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Bieber has served as Chairman of the Department of Surgery and Chairman of the Medical Staff at Suburban Hospital and as President of the Washington Orthopaedic Society.SpecialtiesUpper Extremity (hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder)PrivilegesDr. Bieber performs surgery at Surgical Specialty Center of Mid-Atlantic, Suburban Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital, Bethesda Chevy Chase Surgery Center, Surgical Specialty Center of Mid-Atlantic, and Advanced Surgery Center of Bethesda. Dr. Bieber is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tenosynovitis. His top areas of expertise are Synovitis, Tendinitis, Tenosynovitis, and Trigger Thumb.
Tidewater Orthopaedic Associates Inc.
Loel Payne is an Orthopedics provider in Hampton, Virginia. Dr. Payne is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tenosynovitis. His top areas of expertise are Bursitis, Osteoarthritis, Tenosynovitis, Knee Replacement, and Shoulder Arthroscopy. Dr. Payne is currently accepting new patients.
Most people fully recover with treatment. If tenosynovitis is caused by overuse and the activity is not stopped, it is likely to come back. If the tendon is damaged, recovery may be slow or the condition may become chronic (ongoing).
If tenosynovitis is not treated, the tendon may become permanently restricted or it may tear (rupture). The affected joint can become stiff.
Infection in the tendon may spread, which could be serious and threaten the affected limb.
Contact your provider if you have pain or difficulty straightening a joint or limb. Contact your provider right away if you notice a red streak on your hand, wrist, ankle, or foot. This is a sign of an infection.
Avoiding repetitive movements and overuse of tendons may help prevent tenosynovitis.
Proper lifting or movement can decrease the occurrence.
Use the appropriate wound care techniques to clean cuts on the hand, wrist, ankle, and foot.
Summary: There is no study in the literature comparing the effectiveness of ESWT and splint therapy, which are the most commonly used approaches in the treatment of Trigger Finger (TF). The aim in this study is to investigate the effectiveness of ESWT and splint therapy used in the treatment of TF.
Summary: A procedure frequently performed by orthopaedic providers is the administration of corticosteroid injections for the management of various soft tissues and joint-related conditions, such as osteoarthritis, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, and de Quervain's tenosynovitis. While these injections have demonstrated effectiveness in alleviating symptoms, the discomfort associated wit...
Published Date: August 27, 2024
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Biundo JJ, Canoso JJ. Bursitis, tendinopathy, other periarticular disorders, and sports medicine. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 242.
Hogrefe C, Jones EM. Tendinopathy and bursitis. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 103.
Thompson NB. Hand infections. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 79.