Intersection syndrome
Intersection syndrome is inflammation of the tendon that runs down the forearm, through the wrist and to the thumb.
This injury is caused by repetitive strain on the tendon due to frequent, awkward positioning of the wrist and/or thumb. It is associated with activities requiring frequent or repetitive motions of the wrist. It is often seen in athletes, particularly those involved in sports such as rowing or weight lifting.
The chief symptom is pain in the thumb side of the wrist. This pain is usually noticed while forming a fist, grasping objects or turning the wrist, and it may radiate out to the thumb or the forearm.
Other signs and symptoms can include:
- inflammation (swelling) or tenderness of the radial side of the wrist
- popping or snapping sounds while moving the thumb
Conservative, nonsurgical treatments are tried first. These can include:
- reducing or modifying activities
- wearing a forearm spica splint
- Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
If the above measures are not effective after several weeks, gluticorticoid injections may provide pain relief. Rarely, if pain persists after non-operative measures have been tried, wrist surgery may be required.