An Unusual Presentation of De Quervain’s Disease

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a condition affecting individuals who perform repetitive activities using their hands. It has been found to affect women more than men with a relative risk as high as 8:1. A recent study has also found the black race as a risk factor. There is substantial variation of the first extensor compartment with different degrees of subcompartmentalisation and numbers of tendon slips. This report describes a young lady in her teens with unusual symptoms relating to De Quervain’s tenosynovitis with bruising tracking along the extensor aspect of the forearm in conjunction with the typical tenderness and a positive Finkelstein’s test. In this case a single thickened tendon of APL was found with a bruised muscle belly tracking through De Quervain’s tunnel as the likely cause for these abnormal symptoms. This case highlights the importance of clinical findings to guide management, as investigations in this case including MRI scan were normal.