What is a Tennis Elbow?

Also known as lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow is a condition that occurs when the tendons of the elbows are overused. It’s a painful condition that usually occurs as a result of repetitive motions of the wrist and the arm.

This condition is very common among tennis players and other athletes who play sports that require repetitive and vigorous use of the forearm muscles. It’s also common in those who work in certain jobs such as carpentry, cooking, and plumbing.

Symptoms of a Tennis Elbow

The symptoms of a tennis elbow develop gradually. It usually begins with mild pain that worsens over weeks or months. This pain may radiate from the outside of the elbow into the forearm and wrist.

Aside from the pain, there can also be arm weakness. As a result, the patient finds it hard to do things with his/her hands such as gripping an object, holding a cup, and even turning a doorknob.

Diagnosing a Tennis Elbow

There are several areas that the doctor will look into before making a diagnosis. These include one’s symptoms and how they developed and any existing occupational or sports risk factors.

Aside from reviewing the medical history, the doctor will also run a thorough physical exam. He/she may ask the patient to straighten his/her arm against resistance to see if it causes pain. The occurrence of pain will tell the doctor that those muscles are not healthy.

Additional tests may be required to rule out other possible causes of the symptoms. These tests may include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, electromyography (EMG), and x-rays.

How It Is Treated

Most cases of tennis elbow (about 80 to 95%) are successfully treated through nonsurgical methods.

Nonsurgical Treatment

Rest, which includes cessation of participation in activities that require heavy work, is usually part of the treatment plan for patients with tennis elbow. If he/she is active in certain sports, he/she may be recommended to stop his/her participation in them for several weeks in order to give the arms the rest they need.

Other nonsurgical treatment options for tennis elbow include the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, use of a brace centered over the back of the forearm, steroid injections, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

Surgical Treatment Options

If symptoms are still felt after 6 to 12 months of nonsurgical intervention, the doctor may recommend surgery.

Most surgical procedures for the tennis elbow involved the removal of the diseased muscle and then re-attaching the healthy muscle back to the bone. The surgery can either be an open or arthroscopic procedure.

What is Osteoarthritis of the Elbow?

Osteoarthritis of the elbow is a degenerative condition that results from the wear and tear of the cartilage surface of the elbow.

Types and Causes of Elbow Osteoarthritis

There are two types of elbow osteoarthritis: the primary and the post-traumatic osteoarthritis. In primary elbow osteoarthritis, the degenerative changes in the joint occur without a specific cause. It’s different with the post-traumatic type wherein arthritis occurs as a result of injury, which may have happened years ago.

Elbow injuries such as dislocation or fracture can lead to osteoarthritis as these can damage the cartilage directly. Pieces of cartilage can be ripped away from the bone and may float around the joint, causing pain.

The Least Affected Joints

Osteoarthritis usually affects the weight-bearing joints of the body such as the hips and the knees. The elbows are the least affected because of their stabilizing ligaments and well-matched joint surfaces.

Symptoms of Osteoarthritis of the Elbow

Like other cases of osteoarthritis, pain and stiffness are the most common symptoms of elbow osteoarthritis. Initially, the pain is related to activity. There is usually less pain and stiffness with activity. When one stops to take a break, the pain and stiffness increase or worsen.

As the condition progresses, the pain is felt even when one is at rest. There can also be swelling around the elbow and a squeaking noise and crepitus (creaking sensation) when the joints are moved.

All these symptoms can affect one’s movement. Those with elbow osteoarthritis initially find it hard to completely straighten their arms. As it progresses, they find it hard to bend until they experience arm weakness and decrease in function.

Diagnosing Osteoarthritis of the Elbow

Doctors can easily diagnose elbow osteoarthritis based on the patient’s symptoms and the result of standard x-rays, which usually show arthritic changes.

How It Is Treated

Treatment for elbow osteoarthritis depends on several factors include the severity of the patient’s condition, his/her medical history, his/her overall health condition, and the results of x-ray and other tests.

Nonsurgical Treatment

Nonsurgical treatment is recommended for early stages of the disease. This usually includes oral injections to reduce the pain, physical therapy, and making changes or modifications in one’s usual activities. In some cases, corticosteroid injections are recommended for pain relief.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery is only recommended when there is no relief from the nonsurgical treatment options. Arthroscopy and joint replacement are the common surgical options.

Arthroscopy, which involves the removal of any loose cartilage or degenerative tissue in the joint, is shown to provide pain relief and improvement in movement. Joint replacement, on the other hand, is only recommended when the joint surface has worn out completely.

What is Elbow Fracture?

An elbow fracture or a broken elbow is a common injury in both adults and children. It may occur as a result of overuse (a common cause among athletes), high-energy trauma such as a motorcycle collision, a sideswipe injury, or any other direct injury to the elbow, shoulder, hand, or wrist.

An elbow fracture is a serious elbow injury that requires medical attention. Early diagnosis and treatment can help in preventing complications and later disability.

Symptoms of Elbow Fracture

A common symptom of elbow fracture is a sudden and often intense pain in the elbow and forearm. Other symptoms include swelling of the elbow or of the area immediately above or below it, deformity of the elbow or areas near it, discoloration or bruising, difficulty in moving the elbow, and numbness or decreased sensation on the forearm, hand, or fingers. Some people with elbow fracture also complain of a feeling of tightness in the area of the elbow or forearm.

Diagnosing Elbow Fracture

An elbow fracture requires immediate medical help as it can lead to serious complications and disability.

If an elbow fracture is suspected, the doctor will review one’s medical history including the nature and cause of injury. There will also be a thorough physical exam, focusing on the affected area/arm. He/she will look for the swelling, tenderness, change in color in the hand, bruising, and any limitation in movement.

X-rays are often required to see clear images of the affected site. It can help the doctor determine what kind of fracture it is and whether the bones have moved out of alignment.

How It Is Treated

Treatment for elbow fracture depends on several factors including the type of fracture and the degree of the displacement.

Nonsurgical Treatment

Nonsurgical treatment is recommended for those with stable fracture (a type of fracture on which the bones line up and are barely out of place).

The use of a splint or cast for immobilization is an example of nonsurgical treatment. In some cases, the application of splint or cast is done only after closed reduction.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery is recommended if the bone fragments are displaced. Surgical options for elbow fracture include closed reduction and percutaneous pinning and open reduction and internal fixation.