Ch 6 MDT Elbow, Hand, & Wrist Flashcards
Lateral Tendinosis is also known as:
Tennis Elbow
Medial Tendinosis is also known as:
Golfer’s elbow or Bowler’s elbow
Overuse injury involving excessive use of extensor tendons
Commonly seen in sports or activities that require excessive wrist and hand extension
Lateral Epicondylitis
Overuse injury involving excessive use of flexor or pronator muscles
Activities that require excessive wrist and hand flexion
Medial Epicondylitis
From activities that involve gripping and wrist extension
- Lifting
- Turning a screwdriver
- Hitting backhand in tennis
- Excessive typing
Lateral Epicondylitis
Exacerbated by activities that involve wrist flexion and forearm pronation
- Golf swing
- Baseball pitching
- Pull-through stroke swimming
- Weight lifting
- Bowling
Medial epicondylitis
Lateral epicondylitis will have tenderness __ cm distal and slightly anterior to lateral epicondyle
1 cm
Wrist extension and grip strength limited by pain
Lateral epicondylitis
Wrist flexion and pronation limited by pain
Medial epicondylitis
Diagnostic tests for Lateral/Medial epicondylitis
Diagnosed clinically
U/S or MRI in cases not responding to conservative management
Treatment for medial/lateral epicondylitis
Light duty, limit repetitive activity to allow for healing
NSAIDs
Tennis elbow strap
Pain free stretching
Treatment for medial/lateral epicondylitis if conservative management fails
Physical therapy
Ortho consult
Steroid injection
Olecranon bursitis may occur secondary to:
Trauma
Inflammation
Infection
Disease processes that can cause olecranon bursitis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Gout
Systemic inflammatory process
Large mass over elbow
Tenderness over elbow
ROM limited by pain
Olecranon Bursitis
Diagnostic tests for olecranon bursitis
Aspiration
Radiographs to rule out fracture
Treatment for olecranon bursitis
NSAIDs
Pressure Wrap
Ice
Moderate or severe cases of olecranon bursitis should under go:
Aspiration of fluid - refer for orthopedic evaulation
Treatment for olecranon bursitis with signs of infection
Antibiotics
Referral/Red Flags for olecranon bursitis
Septic bursitis or recurrence of fluid despite repeated aspirations
Most common site of ulnar nerve compression
Groove on the posterior aspect of the medial epicondyle (cubital tunnel)
Etiologies of ulnar nerve compression
Direct blow to cubital tunnel
Stretched nerve for prolonged periods of time
Cubitus valgus (carrying angle greater than 10 degrees)
Osteophytes or scar tissue
Numbness and tingling in the 4th and 5th digits
Elbow pain/ache
May radiate to shoulder or neck
Unable to open jars or turn keys (late sign)
Muscle atrophy implies nerve compression of several months
Ulnar nerve compression
Neurovascular test that will be affected on the 4th and 5th digits in patients with ulnar nerve compression
Two-point discrimination
Special tests that are positive in ulnar nerve compression
Tinel sign
Diagnostic tests for ulnar nerve compression
Electromyographic/nerve conduction velocity (EMG/NCV) study
Radiographs to see previous trauma
EMG/NCV study with velocity reduction of ___% or more suggests significant ulnar nerve compression
30%
Treatment for ulnar nerve compression
Modify activities that limit elbow flexion and direct pressure
Splint elbow to avoid 90 degree flexion at night
NSAIDs
Most important step in the treatment of ulnar nerve compression
Modify activities to limit elbow flexion and direct pressure
Ulnar nerve compression
Surgical decompression and transposition of ulnar nerve if ___ months of conservative management failed
3-4 months
Primary structure that resists valgus stress at the elbow
Ulnar collateral ligament
Common injury to ulnar collateral ligament comes from:
Excessive overhead throwing motions (baseball pitcher)
“Pop” while throwing
Gradual onset of symptoms with progressive medial elbow pain with valgus stresses
May have symptoms consistent with ulnar neuritis
Ulnar collateral ligament tear