Association of Wartenberg's syndrome and De Quervain's disease: a series of 26 cases.

We report on a series of 25 patients (26 cases) presenting an association of Wartenberg's radial neuritis and De Quervain's tenosynovitis. In all patients the diagnosis was made on clinical grounds. In group 1, conservative treatment of Wartenberg's syndrome was used in 16 patients (associated with surgical release of the first extensor compartment in 5 patients). Of the 14 patients available for follow-up at an average of 15 months, 9 (64 percent) were excellent and good results. In group 2 (11 patients, with 1 failure of conservative treatment), surgical treatment addressed both conditions. Neurolysis has to be performed at the classic proximal site of entrapment (constant excellent and good results), for the 2 cases of neurolysis at the styloid level gave fair results. It is particularly important to identify an associated Wartenberg's syndrome before performing a release of the first dorsal compartment to avoid incomplete relief or even aggravation of neuritis, exposing the surgeon to litigation.