Lateral and medial epicondylitis are common causes of elbow pain in the general population,
with the lateral variety being more common than the medial by a ratio reportedly ranging
from 4:1 to 7:1. Initially thought to be an inflammatory condition, epicondylitis
has ultimately been shown to result from tendinous microtearing followed by an incomplete
reparative response. Numerous nonoperative and operative treatment options have been
employed in the treatment of epicondylitis, without the emergence of a single, consistent,
universally accepted treatment protocol.
Tendon ruptures about the elbow are much less frequent, but result in more significant
disability and loss of function. Distal biceps tendon ruptures typically occur in
middle-aged males as a result of an event that causes a sudden, eccentric contraction
of the biceps. Triceps tendon ruptures are exceedingly rare but usually have a similar
etiology with a forceful eccentric contraction of the triceps that causes avulsion
of the tendon from the olecranon. The diagnosis of these injuries is not always readily
made. Complete ruptures of the biceps or triceps tendons have traditionally been treated
surgically with good results. With regard to biceps ruptures, there continues to be
debate about the best surgical approach, as well as the best method of fixation of
tendon to bone.
This article is not meant to be an exhaustive review of the broad topics of elbow
tendinopathy and tendon ruptures, but rather is a review of recently published information
on the topics that will assist the clinician in diagnosis and management of these
conditions.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 20,
2009
Received:
January 6,
2009
Footnotes
No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc.
