Gouty flexor tenosynovitis of the digits: report of three cases

Abstract

Gouty tenosynovitis in the hand is a rare entity. To date the limited cases described have involved predominantly extensor tendons in the fingers and flexor tendons in the palm or wrist. Flexor tendon involvement is less common and has been reported only twice to our knowledge distal to the palm. We report 3 cases of extra-articular gout presenting as tophaceous involvement of flexor tendons in the fingers. All cases were treated surgically. These cases are presented to heighten awareness of this rare entity and to provide a setting for a discussion of management.