Ultrasound-guided versus blind corticosteroid injections for De Quervain tendinopathy: a prospective randomized trial

A total of 154 patients with De Quervain tendinopathy were randomized into a blind injection group or an ultrasound-guided injection group to compare effectiveness and complications of steroid injection. The visual analogue scale score for pain, Finkelstein test result, and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score were assessed at 12 and 24 weeks follow-up. At 12 weeks, the DASH scores were significantly better in the ultrasound-guided group, but the mean difference was less than the minimum clinically important difference. There was no difference in the DASH scores between the groups at 24 weeks. The pain scores were not significantly different between the two groups at 12 and 24 weeks. The incidence of treatment failure did not significantly differ between two groups. Incidences of soft tissue atrophy or skin depigmentation were significantly greater in patients with blind injection than with ultrasound-guided injection. We conclude that ultrasound-guided steroid injection for De Quervain tendinopathy reduces steroid-associated complications but has similar pain relieving and functional outcomes as blind injection. Level of evidence: I.