Ultrasonographic examination of de Quervain's disease.

In order to assess the usefulness of ultrasonography in the preoperative evaluation of de Quervain's disease, we retrospectively analyzed the ultrasonographic findings in 32 patients, and compared these findings with operative findings. Ultrasonography identified a septum between the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis tendons in 26 patients and showed absence of the septum in 6 patients. During surgery, the presence of the septum was confirmed in 27 patients, and was absent in 5. Our results demonstrated the usefulness of preoperative ultrasonography in correctly detecting anatomic abnormalities in patients with de Quervain's disease.