Common tendinopathies around the elbow; what does current evidence say?

Amin Kheiran; Aditi Pandey; Radhakant Pandey

doi:10.1016/j.jcot.2021.05.021

Common tendinopathies around the elbow; what does current evidence say?

J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2021 May 21:19:216-223. doi: 10.1016/j.jcot.2021.05.021. eCollection 2021 Aug.

Authors

Amin Kheiran¹, Aditi Pandey², Radhakant Pandey¹

Affiliations

¹ Shoulder & Elbow Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
² University College of London Hospital, London, UK.

Abstract

Tendinopathies are common causes of pain around the elbow resulting in significant functional impairment in athletes or the working-age population. Patients complain of a gradual onset pain with or without any specific trauma. Tissue histology shows chronic fibroblast and vascular proliferation, with a disorganized collagen pattern and absence of inflammatory mediators. Currently, numerous treatment options are described, but many of these are only supported by a heterogenous evidence base. Thus, management guidelines are difficult to define. Surgery is mostly indicated in selected cases that have failed non-operative management. This article reviews the pathophysiology and natural history of lateral and medial elbow tendinopathies, as well as distal biceps and triceps tendinopathies, and their current treatment options.

Keywords: Golfer's Elbow; Tendinitis Biceps; Tendinopathy triceps; Tennis Elbow.