Tenosynovitis
compensation claims

If tenosynovitis injury has set you back, we'll help you move forward

Tenosynovitis is the inflammation of the fluid-filled sheath that surrounds a tendon, typically due to repetitive use or injury. Treatment can involve rest, splinting, corticosteroid injections, and in severe cases, surgery to release the tendon.

If you have been affected by a tenosynovitis injury, we can help. If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

You can make a compensation claim with the help and support of a personal injury solicitor.

You are not alone

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) research found that 477,000 workers suffered from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) last year.

The HSE warns that injuries that can develop and worsen over time, including tenosynovitis, RSI, and similar conditions, are prevalent in many industries, from agriculture to office work.

If someone else was at fault for your injury, you may be able to claim financial compensation for tenosynovitis.

How are tenosynovitis injuries caused?

Tenosynovitis describes when the membrane around a tendon becomes inflamed. This inflammation can make it painful to move an affected joint, and can restrict range of movement.

Tenosynovitis injuries, like many tendon-related conditions, affect workers who carry out repetitive movements. Tenosynovitis can also occur when the synovial membrane is damaged, for example, in a high-impact collision or a fall.

Due to the repetitive nature of the work, data entry and factory workers are particularly at risk, but tenosynovitis can affect many workers across several industry sectors, including retail and construction trades.

Tenosynovitis can also develop following illness.

If you decide to make a tenosynovitis injury claim, your personal injury solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you deserve.

Do I have a tenosynovitis injury claim?

If you've been injured in an accident that was caused another person or organisation in the last 3 years, you will be entitled to make a claim for financial compensation.

Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.

Compensation claims with shared fault

It's not unusual for personal injury claims to involve fault on both sides.

In our 2023 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, we found that 13.99% of respondents felt they had at least some responsibility for the injuries they sustained.

Claims are possible even when your actions partially caused the accident. In instances of 'contributory negligence', claims are usually settled with a split liability agreement.

Read more:

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

How long do I have to make a tenosynovitis injury claim?

In most cases, you have 3 years from the date of your accident or injury.

If you were injured when you were under 18, a parent, guardian or adult 'litigation friend' can make a claim on your behalf. Once you turn 18, you have until your 21st birthday to start an injury claim.

How much compensation can I claim for tenosynovitis?

The amount of money you could claim for your injury will depend on:

• the seriousness of your injury, and
• any financial losses or costs you have incurred.

At the start of your claim, your solicitor will consider the many ways your injuries have affected your life. Your solicitor will take these considerations into account to calculate the correct compensation award.

General damages

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).

Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Special damages

If it can be proved that your injury left you unable to work, special damages can be awarded for any lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. It may also be possible to claim for loss of future earnings, if the medical prognosis establishes that you won't be able to work for any period in the future.

These damages will also cover the cost of any medical procedures you might need to treat or recover from your tenosynovitis such as corticosteroid injections and splinting.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

Can I claim for PTS or other psychological trauma?

Psychiatric harm is less obvious than physical injury, but the consequences can be just as difficult to deal with.

According to our 2023 Personal Injury Claimant Survey shows that 29.03% of potential claimants sustained a psychological injury, 70.97% of which related to a physical injury.

Tenosynovitis injuries can cause anxiety over hand and wrist movements, impacting daily tasks and job performance.

Although psychiatric injuries are less obvious than physical injuries and illness, mental health conditions can be no less debilitating.

Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.

Can I make a tenosynovitis injury claim?

Tenosynovitis commonly occurs if:

• A worker is required to perform repetitive tasks without proper training, PPE or regular breaks.
• A worker must operate in cramped or restricted conditions, on in a crouch or kneeling position.
• The same task is carried out continuously over a period of time. This activity can also lead to conditions such as repetitive strain injury (RSI) and tendonitis.

Your solicitor will need to demonstrate that your tenosynovitis was caused by a third party who owed you a duty of care. For example, your condition may have been caused by unsafe work practices that your employer failed to take the proper precautions to keep you safe.

Can I claim for De Quervain's tendinosis?

De Quervain's tendinosis is a type of tenosynovitis that affects the tendons of your thumb. The condition is painful and can make it difficult to rotate your wrist, make a fist or grasp anything firmly. Like many other tendon injuries, without treatment, this condition can worsen over time, with the pain spreading through your arm.

The cause of the condition is not exactly known, but you can still claim compensation for de Quervain tenosynovitis if it is likely that chronic overuse at work caused your injury.

Can I claim compensation for other tendon injuries and conditions?

Several conditions can affect your tendons, often with similar symptoms. Tendinopathy, for example, presents as tenderness and pain when the region around the tendon is touched or the tendon is exercised.

Terms used to describe the categories of tendon pain include:

• Tendinitis - meaning inflammation with an acute injury
• Tendinosis - meaning no inflammation but a chronic tendon injury is evident and the result of cellular degeneration
• Tendinopathy - meaning chronic tendon injuries are apparent, but the medical cause of the pain is not necessarily clear
• Flexor tendonitis - affect workers who sustained finger injury either through overuse, such as by using a keyboard all day or through a sudden impact.

If it can be proved that the harm was the result of an employer's negligence, it may be possible to make a claim for each of the above categories of tendon injury.

See also:

Tendon injury compensation claims

You can also claim compensation for chronic pain caused by similar conditions causing joint pain and restricted movement.

See also:

Carpal tunnel syndrome injury claims

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) claims

Can I claim if a health and safety breach caused my tenosynovitis?

Employers have a legal duty to protect their employees against the risk of accident and injury in the workplace.

An employer who fails to identify the risks or implement appropriate safety measures as prescribed by the Regulations would be negligent and therefore liable for your injury.

Can I claim if a doctor misdiagnosed my tenosynovitis?

Like other tendon injuries, tenosynovitis causes inflammation and pain. Delayed diagnosis or treatment of even minor tendon injuries can lead to more serious issues and chronic pain.

You can make a misdiagnosis compensation claim against a GP, NHS Trust or other medical practitioner or authority in circumstances where:

• Your tendon injury was not promptly diagnosed.
• Your injury was wrongly diagnosed as a less serious condition.
• You were given the wrong treatment for your injury.

In each case, your solicitor will show that the error caused you unnecessary pain and suffering, or led to a worse outcome, delaying or preventing your full recovery.

Tenosynovitis claim case study

£121,803 compensation was awarded by Guildford County Court to a 48 year old woman who suffered a work related upper limb disorder as a result of her employment.

Injury details

The claimant, a 48 year old secretary and audio typist, was employed by the defendant . After the injury it was estimated that she spent around half of her time carrying out audio typing duties. The remainder of her time was spent on other duties.

One of the claimant's colleagues was absent from the office for an extended period on maternity leave and the defendant did not provide alternative temporary cover for the absent employee.

The claimant was expected to provide maternity cover, meaning the claimant's workload increased by 20-30%.

Before the injury the claimant visited her GP three times over 10 years complaining about pain in her wrists and fingers.

After taking on the additional work, the claimant began to suffer severe pain in both hands, arms, shoulders and in her neck. The right side was worse than the left.

Her GP referred her to a rheumatologist who diagnosed recurrent De Quervain tenosynovitis and physiotherapy was prescribed.

The claimant was examined by an occupational health practitioner who confirmed that the condition was work related. The practitioner recommended that her employer should reduce the amount of time the claimant spent on audio-typing.

The employer followed this recommendation but it did not improve the claimant's condition.

By the end of the year, the pain was so intense that the claimant found even basic tasks very difficult and she had to give up work.

Allegation:

It was alleged that the defendant was negligent insofar as they failed to maintain provide the claimant with safe working practices and adequate rest periods.

The claimant alleged that she had suffered permanent injuries as a direct result of the defendant's negligence.

The claimant further alleged that she would never be able to return to working as a secretary.

Settlement and conclusion

The case progressed to a court hearing in Guildford County Court. The Recorder presiding over the trial awarded the claimant £11,500 for pain suffering and loss of amenity.

The remainder of the award was made for loss of future earnings and future medical expenses.

How did your injury happen?

The claims process for a tenosynovitis injury will depend on where and how the accident happened. Click the icons below for more information:

Work
accidents

Public
places

Road
accidents

Medical
negligence

Other
accidents

Injury FAQs

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How we can help you with your injury claim

Your solicitor will fight for the best possible compensation settlement for you, and the highly-experienced panel of solicitors have an excellent track record of winning injury claims.

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Handled with the utmost professionalism... extremely kind, courteous and empathetic.

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Author:
Chris Salmon, Director

About the author

Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Legal Services. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.