Intra-operative "passive gliding" technique for de Quervain's disease: a prospective study.

An intra-operative "passive gliding" maneuver was performed to identify the extensor pollicis brevis tendon during surgical decompression for de Quervain's disease in 40 involved wrists. All the patients were relieved of their symptoms and no recurrence occurred after one year of follow-up. By performing this intra-operative maneuver surgeons can prevent incomplete decompression in de Quervain's disease, regardless of the anatomical variation of the first extensor compartment.