Radiohumeral Bursitis, Epicondylitis, Epicondylalgia (Tennis Elbow)

Abstract

Tennis elbow, as it has been commonly called in this country and Great Britain, or the epicondylitis of Franke, or the epicondylalgia of F\l =e' \r\l =e' \,is a condition that is fairly common among tennis players, though by no means confined to them. The first mention of the lesion which I have been able to find was by Bernhardt, in 1896, in the Neurologisches Centralblatt, "On a Little Known Form of Occupational Neuralgia." He states that Remak had previously reported a case. The most significant contributions on the subject since this article have been made by B\l=a"\hr 1

Open Lateral Epicondylectomy: A Simple Technique Update for the 21st Century

“…The question as to the true cause of pain has led to the various techniques in the treatment of lateral epicondylosis. Synovial fringes have been excised, 3,31,36,39,41 the orbital ligament sectioned, 3,5,12,27,39 the radial nerve decompressed, 18,20,22,23,25,42,45 diseased articular cartilage excised, 30 tendon lengthened 7,11 or released, 1,3,12,15,17,26,30,39,40,43,47 tendon excised, 33,34 tendon origin repaired, 2,5,8,10,16,21,[31][32][33][34] or combinations of these techniques have been used. 35,46 Our observations have been consistent with the findings reported in studies by Coonrad and Hooper 8 and by Nirschl.…”

“…The various operations for tennis elbow may be classified into four types: 1) those that repair the extensor origin after excision of the torn tendon, granulation tissue, and part of the epicondyle; 5,8,13,16,[31][32][33] 2) those that relieve tension on the common extensor by fasciotomy or by direct release by dissection of the extensor origin from the epicondyle 1,17,19,26,40,43,47 or by lengthening the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon distally 7,15 ; 3) those directed at the radial nerve, either by denervating the outside of the elbow by severing sensory fibers 22 or by decompressing the posterior interosseous nerve; 25,28,38,45 and 4) those that involve intra-articular procedures such as partial or complete division of the orbicular ligament 3,4,6,12,27,39 reshaping of the radial head or synovectomy, 30,36,41 separately or in combination with fasciotomy, or release of the extensor origin.…”

Biomechanical models for the pathogenesis of specific distal upper extremity disorders

“…Excluding blunt trauma, the most commonly cited etiologic factors mentioned by clinicians include: Golf, tennis, or other sports [Bosworth, 1965;Coonrad and Hooper, 1973;Wadsworth, 1987;Goldberg et al, 1988]; Persistent repetitive or vigorous use (work or recreation) [Cyriax, 1936;Meherin and Cooper, 1950;Kivi, 1982;Goldberg et al, 1988]; Strenuous or repeated extension of the arm (with or without sudden opposition to further extension) [Osgood, 1922;Goldie, 1964]; Sudden or continued muscular strain (work or recreation) [Cyriax, 1936;Goldie, 1964;Kivi, 1982]; Repeated pronation/supination movements against resistance with or without elbow extension (work or recreation) [Cyriax, 1936;Spencer and Herndon, 1953;Goldie, 1964;Shapiro, 1990]; Unaccustomed activity [Meherin and Cooper, 1950;Goldie, 1964;Kivi, 1982;Dimberg, 1987;Taylor and Bender, 1991]; and Lack of occupational predilection [Bosworth, 1955;Paul, 1957;Garden, 1961;Carroll and Jorgensen, 1968;Dimberg, 1987]. Kivi [1982] reported on the etiology and types of occupations of 88 cases seen at a large occupational health center in Finland between 1977 and 1979.…”

Tennis Elbow

“…This bursa which is of varying size, lies beneath the conjoined tendon of the extensor muscles and between it and the tip of the epicondyle, the origin of supinator brevis and the radio‐humeral joint. Osgood (1922) found inflammation of this bursa to be present in several cases of tennis elbow treated operatively. Meherin and Cooper in their study of 200 cases of tennis elbow considered that the nipped synovial fringe and the radio‐humeral bursitis accounted for only a small proportion of the cases.…”