Case of stenosing tenosynovitis of the thumb in children: 儿拇指狭窄性腱鞘炎案

Abstract

A female patient, 13 months old, suffering from limited extension of the right thumb for 7 days, diagnosed as stenosing tenosynovitis of the thumb in children. Tuina (Chinese massage) therapy was adopted, in which, stimulation was applied with fingers instead of needles, including pressing and kneading, twisting and kneading, plucking, dorsal extending, rotating as well as pushing and rubbing manipulations. The whole procedure of manipulation lasted around 15 min, once every two days, 3 times weekly. Meanwhile, the parents were advised to bath the child patient's right hand into warm water every day and fix the affected thumb with splint at night. After 12 treatments with tuina therapy, the flexion and extension function of the affected thumb were returned to normal and the thumb motor function was recovered. In 2 months of follow-up, the thumb motor function was normal and the stenosing tenosynovitis was not recurred. In this case, tuina therapy is adopted in treatment of stenosing tenosynovitis of the thumb in children. As an alternative method of surgery, tuina therapy has a satisfactory clinical effect.