title: Preoperative ultrasound in de Quervain's disease: an investigation worth doing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnosis of de Quervain's disease is traditionally clinical. There are no defined objective criteria to select a mode of treatment (conservative or surgical). Usually, all cases are initially treated conservatively and are offered surgery if it fails. Persistent symptoms after surgery, a nightmare for treating surgeon, are attributed to improper diagnosis or inadequate release of the compartment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 45 symptomatic wrists in 42 patients were analyzed. All patients underwent ultrasound examination using a 12 MHz linear array transducer by the same radiologist in both the affected and unaffected wrists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest incidence was seen in housewives involved in domestic work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound is a worthwhile preoperative investigation in case of de Quervain's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Attavar, Mangalore, 575 001 Karnataka India.
authors.lastname: Harshvardhan
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
keywords: Anatomical variations; Ultrasound; de Quervain’s disease