The Role of Elbow Tender Point Examination in the Diagnosis of Lateral Epicondylitis (original) (raw)
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Lateral Epicondylitis of the Elbow: US Findings
Radiology, 2005
PURPOSE: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography (US) in the detection of lateral epicondylitis and identify the US findings that are most strongly associated with symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Internal review board approval was obtained for retrospective review of the patient images, and the need for informed consent was waived. Internal review board approval was also obtained for scanning the 10 volunteers, all of whom gave informed consent. The study was compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. US of the common extensor tendon was performed in 20 elbows in 10 asymptomatic volunteers (six men, four women; age range, 22-38 years; mean age, 29.6 years) and 37 elbows in 22 patients with symptoms of lateral epicondylitis (10 men, 12 women; age range, 30-59 years; mean age, 46 years). Fifty-seven representative images, one from each elbow, were randomly assorted and interpreted by three independent readers who rated each common extensor tendon as normal or abnormal. Abnormal images were further classified as demonstrating one or more of eight US findings. Readers interpreted each image at two separate sessions to determine intrareader variability. The authors calculated the sensitivity and specificity of US in the diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis and the odds ratio for each US finding. Odds ratios were considered statistically significant at P Ͻ .05 when 95% confidence intervals did not include one. RESULTS: Sensitivities of US in the detection of symptomatic lateral epicondylitis ranged from 72% to 88% and specificities from 36% to 48.5%. Odds ratios for the following findings were statistically significant (P Ͻ .05) for both reading sessions: calcification of common extensor tendon, tendon thickening, adjacent bone irregularity, focal hypoechoic regions, and diffuse heterogeneity. Odds ratios for lateral epicondyle enthesophytes were statistically significant (P Ͻ .05) for the first reading session only. Odds ratios for linear intrasubstance tears and peritendinous fluid were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: US of the common extensor tendon had high sensitivity but low specificity in the detection of symptomatic lateral epicondylitis. The relationship between symptoms and intratendinous calcification, tendon thickening, adjacent bone irregularity, focal hypoechoic regions, and diffuse heterogeneity was statistically significant.
Prevalence and Determinants of Lateral and Medial Epicondylitis: A Population Study
American Journal of Epidemiology, 2006
Epicondylitis is a common disorder of the arm, yet the role of individual-and work-related factors has not been addressed in a population study. The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of lateral and medial epicondylitis and to investigate their risk factors. The target population of this study comprised a representative sample of people aged 30-64 years residing in Finland during 2000-2001. Of the 5,871 subjects, 4,783 (81.5%) were included in this study. The prevalence of definite lateral epicondylitis was 1.3%, and that of medial epicondylitis was 0.4%. The prevalence did not differ between men and women and was highest in subjects aged 45-54 years. Current smoking (adjusted odds ratio (OR) ¼ 3.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4, 8.3) and former smoking (OR ¼ 3.0, 95% CI: 1.3, 6.6) were associated with definite lateral epicondylitis. An interaction (p ¼ 0.002) was found between repetitive movements of the arms and forceful activities for the risk of possible or definite lateral epicondylitis (for both repetitive and forceful activities vs. no such activity: OR ¼ 5.6, 95% CI: 1.9, 16.5). Smoking, obesity, repetitive movements, and forceful activities independently of each other showed significant associations with medial epicondylitis. Epicondylitis is relatively common among working-age individuals in the general population. Physical load factors, smoking, and obesity are strong determinants of epicondylitis.
The role of physical examinations in studies of musculoskeletal disorders of the elbow
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2007
To present data on pain and physical findings from the elbow region, and to discuss the role of diagnostic criteria in epidemiological studies of epicondylitis. Methods: From a cohort of computer workers a subgroup of 1369 participants, who reported at least moderate pain in the neck and upper extremities, were invited to a standardised physical examination. Two independent physical examinations were performed-one blinded and one not blinded to the medical history. Information concerning musculoskeletal symptoms was obtained by a baseline questionnaire and a similar questionnaire completed on the day of examination. Results: 349 participants met the authors' criteria for being an arm case and 249 were elbow cases. Among the 1369 participants the prevalence of at least mild palpation tenderness and indirect tenderness at the lateral epicondyle was 5.8%. The occurrence of physical findings increased markedly by level of pain score. Only about one half with physical findings fulfilled the authors' pain criteria for having lateral epicondylitis. A large part with physical findings reported no pain at all in the elbow in any of the two questionnaires, 28% and 22%, respectively. Inter-examiner reliability between blinded and not blinded examination was found to be low (kappa value (0.34-0.40)). Conclusion: Very few with at least moderate pain in the elbow region met common specific criteria for lateral epicondylitis. The occurrence of physical findings increased markedly by level of pain score and the associations were strongest with pain intensity scores given just before the examination. Physical signs were commonly found in subjects with no pain complaints. No further impact was achieved if the physical examination was not blinded to the medical history. Furthermore, the authors propose that pain, clinical signs and disability are studied as separate outcomes, and that the diagnoses of lateral epicondylitis should be used only for cases with classical signs of inflammation reflected by severe pain, which for example conveys some disability.
Lateral epicondylitis: A review of the literature
Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 2012
Lateral epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow) is the most frequent type of myotendinosis and can be responsible for substantial pain and loss of function of the affected limb. Muscular biomechanics characteristics and equipment are important in preventing the conditions. This article present on overview of the current knowledge on lateral Epicondylitis and focuses on Etiology, Diagnosis and treatment strategies, conservative treatment are discussed and recent surgical techniques are outlined. This information should assist health care practitioners who treat patients with this disorder.
Rheumatology (Oxford, England), 2003
To determine whether minimal intervention by occupational specialists involving information about the disorder, encouragement to stay active and instruction in graded self-performed exercises could enhance the prognosis of lateral epicondylitis compared with the treatment usually given in general practice, to quantify workplace factors associated with the prognosis, and to consider treatments given in general practice. A randomized controlled trial was performed in a cohort of 266 consecutive new cases of lateral epicondylitis diagnosed in general practice. Workplace factors were assessed with questionnaires at the time of inclusion, and patients completed follow-ups at 3, 6 and 12 months. Status at 1 yr was assessed as overall improvement and pain reduction compared with the time of diagnosis. General practitioners (GPs) registered the treatments given for both cases and controls during follow-up. Numbers of contacts with GPs and physiotherapists were obtained from the National Hea...
Diagnostic Accuracy of Provocative Tests in Lateral Epicondylitis
2014
The aim of the present study was to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of the commonly used provocative tests in the diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis (LE). Cozen’s test, Mills test and Maudsley test are most widely used. Till date no studies have been reported on the diagnostic accuracy of these tests. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography serves as a gold standard tool in the diagnosis of LE. Thirty subjects participated in the study. Baseline measurements of pain severity, elbow joint mobility, hand grip strength and three provocative tests were recorded by the principal investigator. A second investigator accompanied the subjects for musculoskeletal ultrasonography who was blinded of the test results. The thickness of common extensor tendon, echo texture and lateral epicondyle bony contour was measured. The test results of the three provocative tests with ultrasonographic findings were analyzed. The sensitivity for Cozen’s test, Maudsley test and Mills test was found to be 84%, 88% and ...