The risk of developing De Quervain's tenosynovitis in medical students: a cross-sectional study
10.22421/1517-7130/es.2025v26.e1114en
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22421/1517-7130/es.2025v26.e1114Keywords:
De Quervain Disease, Students, Medical, SmartphoneAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis among medical students and identify associated risk factors, using Finkelstein’s test as a diagnostic tool. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 73 students from the University of Rio Verde, who completed a questionnaire regarding personal data and daily habits, followed by a clinical test. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman correlation tests. Among the participants, 61.64% tested positive. No significant associations were found with sex, medication use, physical activity, or study time. Excessive smartphone use was not significantly associated with positive findings. In conclusion, the results suggest a relevant link between De Quervain’s tenosynovitis and symptoms such as stiffness, previous reports of pain, and orthosis use.
References
Akdag T, Turan A, Ayhan E, Bas CE, Hekimoğlu B. de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis and Radial Styloid Osseous Changes. Indian J Orthop [Internet]. 2022 [citado 08 nov 2023]; 56(4):628-33. Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35342511/>
Andrade ALM, Scatena A, Martins GDG, Pinheiro BO, Becker da SA, Enes CC et al. Validation of smartphone addiction scale – Short version (SAS-SV) in Brazilian adolescents. Addictive Behaviors [Internet]. 2020 [citado 08 nov 2023]; 110:106540. Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32682269/>
Baabdullah A, Bokhary D, Kabli Y, Saggaf O, Daiwali M, Hamdi A. The association between smartphone addiction and thumb/wrist pain. Medicine [Internet]. 2020 [citado 08 nov 2023]; 99(10):e19124. Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32150053/>
Barros Filho TEP, Lech O. Exame Físico em Ortopedia. 3 ed. São Paulo: Sarvier; 2017.
Benites-Zapata VA, Jiménez-Torres VE, Ayala-Roldán MP. Problematic smartphone use is associated with de Quervain’s tenosynovitis symptomatology among young adults. Musculoskelet Sci Pract [Internet]. 2021. [citado 08 nov 2023]; 53:102356. Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33667881/>
Carroll TJ, Caraet B, Madsen N, Wilbur D. Development of de Quervain Tenosynovitis After Distal Radius Fracture. HAND [Internet]. 2023 [citado 08 nov 2023]; 19(7):1154-8. Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37246426/>
Couto MT, Pinheiro TF, Valença O, Machin R, Silva GSN, Gomes R et al. O homem na atenção primária à saúde: discutindo (in)visibilidade a partir da perspectiva de gênero. Interface (Botucatu) [Internet]. 2010 [citado 17 nov 2025]; 14(33): 257-70.
Fakoya AO, Tarzian M, Sabater EL, Burgos DM, Maldonado Marty GI. De Quervain’s Disease: A Discourse on Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Cureus [Internet]. 2023 [citado 08 nov 2023]; 15(4):e38079. Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37252462/>
Inal EE, Demİrcİ K, Çetİntürk A, Akgönül M, Savaş S. Effects of smartphone overuse on hand function, pinch strength, and the median nerve. Muscle Nerve [Internet]. 2015 [citado 08 nov 2023]; 52(2):183-8. Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25914119/>
John VA, Domenic AT, Brian EL. Tenosynovitis Caused by Texting: An Emerging Disease. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine [Internet]. 2010; [citado 08 nov 2023]; 110(5):294-6. Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20538752/>
Kay NRM. De Quervain’s Disease. Changing pathology or changing perception?. J Hand Surg Br. [Internet]. 2000 [citado 08 nov 2023]; 25(1):65-9. Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10763728/>
Kim GY, Ahn CS, Jeon HW, Lee CR. Effects of the Use of Smartphones on Pain and Muscle Fatigue in the Upper Extremity. J Phys Ther Sci [Internet]. 2012 [citado 08 nov 2023]; 24(12): 1255-8. Disponível em: < http://dx.doi.org/10.1589/jpts.24.1255>
Malta M, Cardoso LO, Bastos FI, Magnanini MMF, Silva CMFP. Iniciativa STROBE: subsídios para a comunicação de estudos observacionais. Rev Saude Publica [Internet]. 2010 [citado 08 nov 2023]; 44(3):559-65. Disponível em: < https://www.scielo.br/j/rsp/a/3gYcXJLzXksk6bLLpvTdnYf/?format=html&lang=pt>
Nassar LM, Carvalho JP. Síndrome de burnout em estudantes de graduação de medicina no Brasil: uma revisão do panorama brasileiro. Espac Saude [Internet]. 2021; [citado 12 set 2025].Disponível em: <https://espacoparasaude.fpp.edu.br/index.php/espacosaude/article/view/721>
Nie X, Huang L, Hou J, Dai A, He L, Zheng P et al. Smartphone usage behaviors and their association with De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis (DQT) among college students: a cross-sectional study in Guangxi, China. BMC Public Health [Internet]. 2023 [citado 08 nov 2023]; 23(1):2257. Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37974168/>
Ramchandani J, Thakker A, Tharmaraja T. Time to Reconsider Occupation Induced De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis: An Updated Review of Risk Factors. Orthop Rev (Pavia) [Internet]. 2022 [citado 08 nov 2023]; 14(4): 36911. Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35910550/>
Stahl S, Vida D, Meisner C, Stahl AS, Schaller HE, Held M. Work related etiology of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis: a case-control study with prospectively collected data. BMC Musculoskelet Disord [Internet]. 2015. [citado 08 nov 2023];28(16). Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26018034/>
The jamovi project. [Internet]. 2024 [citado 08 nov 2023]; Disponível em: < https://www.jamovi.org/>
Zirek E, Mustafaoglu R, Yasaci Z, Griffiths MD. A systematic review of musculoskeletal complaints, symptoms, and pathologies related to mobile phone usage. Musculoskelet Sci Pract [Internet]. 2020. [citado 08 nov 2023]; 49:102196. Disponível em: < https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32861360/>
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Maykon Vinnycios Queirós Silva, Ana Paula Fontana, Lucas Ladislau Paiva, Eduardus Parente Domingues, Milena Souza Lopes, Guilherme Henrique Pereira Franco Martins

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors grant the journal the copyright, with the work simultaneously licensed with Creative Commons CC BY, which allows the sharing of work with recognition of authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are authorized to assume additional contracts separately, for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in this journal (e.g., to publish in an institutional repository or as a book chapter), with authorship recognition and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to publish and distribute their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their personal page) at any point before or during the editorial process, as this can generate productive changes, as well as increase the impact and the citation of the published work (See The Effect of Free Access).















