De Quervain Tenosynovitis: An Evaluation of the Epidemiology and Utility of Multiple Injections Using a National Database

Purpose We hypothesized that repeat injections are associated with a decreased rate of success and that the success rate of injections correlates with patient comorbidities. Methods Using a commercially available insurance database, patients diagnosed with De Quervain tenosynovitis were identified using International Classification of Diseases , Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision codes and stratified by therapeutic interventions, including therapy, injections, and surgery, as well as comorbidities. Injection failure was defined as a patient receiving a repeat injection or subsequent surgical management. Success was defined as no further therapies identified after an intervention. Results From 2007 to 2017, 33,420 patients with a primary diagnosis of De Quervain tenosynovitis were identified. Women represented 77.5% (25,908) of the total and were 2.6 times more likely to be diagnosed than men. Black patients were more likely to be diagnosed than White patients. Black and White women were found to have the highest incidence (relative risk 3.4 and 2.3, respectively, compared with White men). Age was also significantly correlated with an increased risk of diagnosis of the condition, with a peak incidence at the age of 40–59 years (relative risk, 10.6). Diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis , lupus, and hypothyroidism were associated with an increased risk of diagnosis. Overall, 53.3% of the patients were treated with injections, 11.6% underwent surgery, and 5.2% underwent therapy. Treatment with a single injection was successful in 71.9% of the patients, with 19.7% receiving a repeat injection and 8.4% treated with surgery. The overall success rate of subsequent injections was 66.3% for the second injection and 60.5% for the third. The initial injection had a higher rate of success in diabetics than in nondiabetics; however, the difference (2%) was not clinically relevant. Conclusions Although the success rate for the treatment of De Quervains tenosynovitis decreases with multiple injections, repeat injections have a high rate of success and are a viable clinical option. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic II.