Lateral epicondylosis: A literature review to link pathology and tendon function to tissue-level treatment and ergonomic interventions.

BACKGROUND: Common treatments for lateral epicondylosis (LE) focus on tissue healing. Ergonomic advice is suggested broadly, but recommendations based on biomechanical motion parameters associated with functional activities are rarely made. This review analyzes the role of body functions and activities in LE and integrates the findings to suggest motion parameters applicable to education and interventions relevant to activities and life roles for patients. PURPOSE: This study examines LE pathology, tendon and muscle biomechanics, and population exposure outlining potentially hazardous activities and integrates those to provide motion parameters for ergonomic interventions to treat or prevent LE. A disease model is discussed to align treatment approaches to the stage of LE tendinopathy. STUDY DESIGN: Integrative review METHODS: We conducted in-depth searches using PubMed, Medline, and government websites. All levels of evidence were included, and the framework for behavioral research from the National Institutes of Health was used to synthesize ergonomic research. RESULTS: The review broadened the diagnosis of LE from a tendon ailment to one affecting the enthesis of the capitellum. It reinforced the continuum of severity to encompass degeneration as well as regeneration. Systematic reviews confirmed the availability of evidence for tissue-based treatments, but evidence of well-defined harm reducing occupational interventions was scattered amongst evidence levels. Integration of biomechanical studies and population information gave insight into types of potentially hazardous activities and provided a theoretical basis for limiting hazardous exposures to wrist extensor tendons by reducing force, compression, and shearing during functional activities. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may broaden the first treatment approach from a passive, watchful waiting into an active exploration and reduction of at-risk activities and motions. Including the findings into education modules may provide patients with the knowledge to lastingly reduce potentially hazardous motions during their daily activities, and researchers to define parameters of ergonomic interventions.

The short-term effectiveness of low-level laser, phonophoresis, and iontophoresis in patients with lateral epicondylosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized parallel group trial. INTRODUCTION: Various treatment options for lateral epicondylosis have been reported in the literature. PURPOSE OF STUDY: We aimed to compare the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT), phonophoresis, and iontophoresis in terms of pain, function, and grip strength. METHODS: This study that comprised 37 patients with lateral epicondylosis was planned as a prospective randomized parallel group trial. Twelve participants were randomized to the LLLT group, 12 to the phonophoresis group, and 13 to the iontophoresis group. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), pressure algometer, the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation, and grip strength dynamometer were used to measure outcomes. The measurements were performed at baseline and at the end of 15 sessions. RESULTS: Investigation of the pain scores revealed that all VAS scores were improved in both the laser and iontophoresis groups (VAS at rest: P = .015, effect size (ES) = 1.49 and P = .016, ES = 0.58, respectively; VAS during activity: P = .008, ES = 1.05 and P = .008, ES = 1.16, respectively; VAS at night: P = .013, ES = 1.01 and P = .016, ES = 0.72, respectively). Only advance in function and grip strength was associated with the iontophoresis group (Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation P = .006, ES = 0.78; grip strength with elbow extension P = .011, ES = 1.03; with elbow flexion P = .003, ES = 0.52). DISCUSSION: The most effective approach could not be highlighted among the existing studies in the literature as they were applied in combination with other therapies. CONCLUSION: In our study, we observed that LLLT provides a benefit only for pain, whereas iontophoresis is beneficial for both pain and function. If the effect size is evaluated, LLLT is more influential than iontophoresis for decreasing pain. However, when we compared phonophoresis and iontophoresis in terms of effectiveness, we found that iontophoresis has better effects for pain, function, and grip strength.

Diagnostic Performance of Superb Microvascular Imaging and Other Sonographic Modalities in the Assessment of Lateral Epicondylosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of different sonographic modalities for diagnosing lateral epicondylosis. METHODS: A total of 50 symptomatic and 50 asymptomatic common extensor tendons in 44 patients with lateral epicondylosis, and 25 healthy participants were prospectively examined by B-mode sonography, color Doppler imaging, power Doppler imaging, Superb Microvascular Imaging (SMI; Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), and strain elastography. We evaluated blood flow in common extensor tendons by using a grading system with color Doppler imaging, power Doppler imaging, and SMI. The diagnostic performance of the modalities was compared. RESULTS: When a cutoff value of hypoechogenicity was used for the mean strain ratio, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy rates were 92.0%, 94%.0, 93.9%, 92.2%, and 93.0%, respectively. When a cutoff point of grade 1 was used, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy rates were 26.0%, 10.0%, 10.0%, 57.5%, and 63.0, for color Doppler imaging; 40.0%, 10.0%, 10.0%, 62.5%, and 70.0% for power Doppler imaging; and 84.0%, 94.0%, 93.0%, 85.5%, and 89.0% for SMI. When a cutoff value of 3.94 was used for the mean strain ratio, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy rates were 78.0%, 92.0%, 90.7%, 80.7%, and 85.0%, respectively. A statistically significant correlation was detected between SMI, strain elastography, and visual analog scale scores (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of SMI and B-mode sonography was found to have excellent diagnostic performance for lateral epicondylosis. Neovascularzation in patients' tendons with lateral epicondylosis was identified much better with SMI compared to color or power Doppler imaging.

Large and Intermediate Joint Injections: Olecranon Bursa, Greater Trochanteric Bursa, Medial and Lateral Epicondyle Peritendinous Injections.

Olecranon bursitis, greater trochanteric bursitis, medial epicondylosis, and lateral epicondylosis are common diagnoses encountered in primary care and sports medicine clinics. This section explores the anatomy, clinical presentation, evaluation, procedural techniques, and management to effectively treat these common conditions.

Prevalence of lateral epicondylosis in veteran manual wheelchair users participating in adaptive sports.

Objective: Determine the prevalence of lateral epicondylosis (LE) of the dominant elbow in manual wheelchair users based on ultrasound assessment and physical exam.Design: Prospective, cross-sectional.Setting: National Veteran Wheelchair Games 2018 and 2019 (event medical services).Participants: Manual wheelchair users who attended the National Veteran Wheelchair Games (n = 87).Interventions: Participants completed a questionnaire then underwent an ultrasound assessment and a physical exam of their dominant arm evaluating for common extensor tendinopathy (CET) or clinically LE.Main Outcome Measure: Prevalence of CET diagnosed by ultrasound criteria was compared with other diagnostic criteria with MaNemar test for paired binary data.Results: Forty-six percent (N = 40) of participants met diagnostic criteria for CET by ultrasound assessment and 17% (N = 15) of participants met criteria for LE based on physical exam. These values are dramatically higher than what has been reported in the able-bodied population where the prevalence is estimated to be <2%. Age and number of years of wheelchair use were significant predictors of ultrasound diagnosis of LE (P = 0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.11) and (P = 0.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.09), respectively. Association analysis based on odds ratio and CI found no association between ultrasound findings suggestive of LE with regular adaptive sport participation greater than 1.5 h per week.Conclusion: Compared to able-bodied population, there is an increased prevalence of both CET and LE in manual wheelchair users based on either ultrasound assessment or physical exam. CET is associated with increased age and increased years using a manual wheelchair. There is no association between the diagnosis of LE and participation in adaptive sport.

Ultrasonographic comparison of the lateral epicondyle in wheelchair-user (and able-bodied) tennis players: A pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate whether manual wheelchair use and wheelchair tennis are associated with increased risk of lateral epicondylosis (LE). We hypothesized that the prevalence of LE would be highest in WC tennis players, followed by tennis players, WC users, and able-bodied subjects.Study design: Prospective cross-sectional pilot study.Setting: Milwaukee VAMC (clinic), National Veterans Wheelchair Games 2016 (medical event coverage).Participants: Wheelchair users, able-bodied controls, tennis players, non-tennis players.Interventions: Subjects meeting inclusion criteria underwent ultrasound examination of the dominant elbow evaluating for characteristics of LE (n = 83).Outcome measurements: Prevalence of LE between groups. Statistical analysis included odds ratios (OR), univariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results: There was no significant difference in diagnosis of LE between groups when comparing prevalence, unadjusted odds ratios, and predicted probabilities. When adjusted for age, able-bodied controls and tennis players had a similar increase in probability of LE with age; this effect was not seen for wheelchair users. Wheelchair users diagnosed with LE on US had spent significantly more time in a wheelchair (23 vs 13 years) than those with a negative diagnosis.Conclusions: Tennis playing in able bodied controls did not increase risk of LE. In wheelchair users, tennis playing does not appear to be associated with LE, though duration of wheelchair use appears to be a significant predictor of LE.Level of evidence: Level II.

ANALYSIS OF RANGE OF MOTION IN FEMALE RECREATIONAL TENNIS PLAYERS WITH AND WITHOUT LATERAL ELBOW TENDINOPATHY.

BACKGROUND: Intrinsic factors including altered joint motion in the upper extremity may lead to altered biomechanics in tennis players and could result in symptoms of lateral elbow tendinopathy. PURPOSE: To compare upper extremity passive motion and elbow carrying angle between three groups of women: recreational tennis players with LET, non-symptomatic recreational tennis players, and a control group of non-tennis players. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: A convenience sample of 63 women was recruited and placed into one of the three groups: non-symptomatic tennis players (NSTP), symptomatic tennis players (STP), and a control group. Elbow carrying angle, passive range of motion of the shoulder, elbow, forearm, and wrist were measured during a single session. RESULTS: A significant difference was found between the groups for wrist flexion (p < 0.00), forearm pronation (p = 0.002), elbow flexion (p = 0.020) and extension (p = 0.460), as well as shoulder internal rotation (p < 0.00). No significant differences were found in other motions or carrying angle between the three groups (p =0.059). Post-hoc comparisons indicated that shoulder internal rotation and wrist flexion was less in both STP and NSTP groups compared with the control group. Elbow flexion and forearm pronation were greater in STP than the other two groups. CONCLUSION: Impairments including loss of shoulder internal rotation and wrist flexion and greater motion at the elbow and forearm were found in the UE of symptomatic tennis players. Evaluation of passive motion and muscle length should be performed prior to establishing a rehabilitation plan for symptomatic tennis players. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Comparing leukocyte-rich platelet-rich plasma injection with surgical intervention for the management of refractory tennis elbow. A prospective randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with ongoing symptoms after non-operative treatment of lateral epicondylosis are usually treated with surgical release. Platelet-rich plasma injection is an alternative treatment option. This study aims to determine whether there is a difference in outcome from platelet-rich plasma injection or surgical release for refractory tennis elbow. METHOD: Eighty-one patients with a diagnosis of tennis elbow for a minimum of six months, treated with previous steroid injection and a minimum visual analogue scale pain score of 50/100 were randomised to open surgery release (41 patients) or leucocyte rich platelet-rich plasma (L-PRP) (40 patients). Patients completed the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation and Disability of the Arm Shoulder and Hand at baseline, 1.5, 3, 6 and 12 months post-intervention. The primary endpoint was change in Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation pain score at 12 months. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients completed final follow-up. Functional and pain scores improved in both groups. No differences in functional improvements were found but greater improvements in Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation pain scores were seen after surgery. Thirteen patients crossed over from platelet-rich plasma to surgery within 12 months, and one surgical patient underwent a platelet-rich plasma injection. CONCLUSION: L-PRP and surgery produce equivalent functional outcome but surgery may result in lower pain scores at 12 months. Seventy per cent of patients treated with platelet-rich plasma avoided surgical intervention.

Comparison of ultrasound and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in lateral epicondylosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and therapeutic ultrasound (US) in the treatment of lateral epicondylosis (LE). METHODS: Our study enrolled 50 patients with LE. Patients were randomized into two groups. Group 1 underwent therapeutic US (n = 24; 5 males and 15 females; mean age: 43.75 ± 4.52) Group 2 underwent ESWT (n = 20; 8 males and 16 females; mean age: 46.04 ± 9.24). Patients were evaluated at baseline, after treatment,and 1 month following treatment. The outcome measures were the visual analog scale (VAS), algometer, grip dynamometer, quick-disability of the arm,shoulder,and hand (QDASH), patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE), and Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey questionnairre. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvements in terms of VAS (all p values < 0.0001), dynamometer (p = 0.001 vs p = 0.015), algometer (all p values < 0.0001), PRTEE (all p values < 0.0001), QDASH (all p values < 0.0001), and SF-36 scores (p = 0.001 vs p = 0.005) within time. There was no significant difference between the two groups, except algometer scores in favor of ESWT (p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: ESWT and therapeutic US are equally effective in treating LE. ESWT is an alternative therapeutic intervention and as effective as US. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Therapeutic study.

Autologous blood injection for treatment of lateral epicondylosis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: To appraise existing evidence of autologous blood injection in treating lateral epicondylosis. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. SETTING: A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Cochrane, SCOPUS, and CINAHL databases was performed to identify randomized controlled trials that reported the efficacy of autologous blood injection in treating lateral epicondylosis. The selected studies were subjected to a meta-analysis and risk of bias assessment. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with lateral epicondylosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain-related measurement in each selected randomized controlled trial was pooled into meta-analysis. RESULTS: Nine randomized controlled trials were included in the analysis. The results of the meta-analysis including the pain scores indicated that autologous blood injection is more effective compared with corticosteroid injection (standard mean difference: -0.75; 95% confidence interval: -1.14 to -0.37) but not more effective compared with platelet-rich plasma injection (standard mean difference: 0.09; 95% confidence interval: -0.66 to 0.84). The risk of bias assessment indicated that all the included trials exhibited a moderate to high risk of bias. CONCLUSION: Autologous blood injection is more effective than corticosteroid injection but not more effective than platelet-rich plasma injection in treating lateral epicondylosis. However, this evidence is limited by the potential risk of bias.

Platelet-Rich-Plasma Injections in Treating Lateral Epicondylosis: a Review of the Recent Evidence.

Lateral epicondylosis is common, with various treatment modalities. Platelet-rich-plasma injections from autologous blood have recently been used in centres worldwide for the treatment of tennis elbow. We review and present the recent published evidence on the effectiveness of PRP injections for lateral epicondylosis. Nine studies met our inclusion criteria including 6 RCT's for the purpose of analysis. PRP injections have an important and effective role in the treatment of this debilitating pathology, in cases where physiotherapy has been unsuccessful.

Predictors of missed research appointments in a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The primary aim of this study was to determine predictors of missed research appointments in a prospective randomized placebo injection-controlled trial with evaluations 1 to 3 and 5 to 8 months after enrollment. METHODS: This study represents a secondary use of data from 104 patients that were enrolled in a prospective randomized controlled trial of dexamethasone versus lidocaine (placebo) injection for various diagnoses. Patients were enrolled between June 2003 and February 2008. Sixty-three patients (61%) had lateral epicondylosis, 17 patients (16%) had trapeziometacarpal arthrosis, and 24 patients (23%) had de Quervain syndrome. Each patient completed a set of questionnaires at time of enrollment. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were used to determine factors associated with missed research appointments. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (13%) did not return for the first follow-up and 33 patients (32%) did not return for the second follow-up. The best multivariable logistic regression model for missing the first research visit explained 35% of the variability and included younger age, belief that health can be controlled, and no college education. The best model for missing the second research visit explained 17% of the variability and included greater pain intensity, less personal responsibility for health, and diagnosis (trapeziometacarpal arthrosis and de Quervain syndrome). CONCLUSIONS: Younger patients with no college education, who believe their health can be controlled, are more likely to miss a research appointment when enrolled in a randomized placebo injection-controlled trial.