Factors Associated With Lateral Epicondylitis of the Elbow

Background: Metabolic factors have been linked to tendinopathies, yet few studies have investigated the association between metabolic factors and lateral epicondylitis. Purpose: To evaluate risk factors for lateral epicondylitis, including several metabolic factors. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We evaluated 1 elbow in each of 937 volunteers from a rural region that employs many agricultural laborers. Each participant received a questionnaire, physical examinations, blood tests, simple radiographic evaluations of both elbows, magnetic resonance imaging of bilateral shoulders, and an electrophysiological study of bilateral upper extremities. Lateral epicondylitis was diagnosed using 3 criteria: (1) pain at the lateral aspect of the elbow, (2) point tenderness over the lateral epicondyle, and (3) pain during resistive wrist dorsiflexion with the elbow in full extension. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for various demographic, physical, and social factors, including age, sex, waist circumference, dominant-side involvement, smoking habit, alcohol intake, and participation in manual labor; the comorbidities of diabetes, hypertension, thyroid dysfunction, metabolic syndrome, ipsilateral biceps tendon injury, ipsilateral rotator cuff tear, and ipsilateral carpal tunnel syndrome; and the serologic parameters of serum lipid profile, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, level of thyroid hormone, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Results: The prevalence of lateral epicondylitis was 26.1% (245/937 participants). According to the multivariable logistic regression analysis, female sex (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.78-3.43), dominant-side involvement (OR, 3.21; 95% CI, 2.24-4.60), manual labor (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.48-3.43), and ipsilateral rotator cuff tear (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.96-3.91) were significantly associated with lateral epicondylitis ( P < .001 for all). No metabolic factors were significantly associated with lateral epicondylitis. Conclusion: Female sex, dominant-side involvement, manual labor, and ipsilateral rotator cuff tear were found to be risk factors for lateral epicondylitis. The study results suggest that overuse activity is more strongly associated with lateral epicondylitis than are metabolic factors.

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Impact of symptom bilaterality and hand dominance on patient-reported disability outcomes

SAGE Open Medicine ◽

10.1177/2050312118797566 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 205031211879756

Author(s):

Helen Razmjou ◽

Tim Dwyer ◽

Richard Holtby

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Rotator Cuff ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Rotator Cuff Tear ◽

Glenohumeral Joint ◽

Impingement Syndrome ◽

Older Age ◽

Hand Dominance ◽

Cuff Tear ◽

Dominant Side

Objectives: It is not clear if using patients with bilateral symptoms would impact the level of disability reported in orthopaedic research. The purposes of this study were to (1) examine the prevalence of bilateral shoulder symptoms (significant pain, stiffness or weakness affecting function) in patients with rotator cuff impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear and osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint, (2) explore risk factors associated with bilateral shoulder symptoms, and (3) examine the impact of symptom bilaterality and hand dominance on pre- and post-operative patient-oriented disability outcomes. Methods: This study involved secondary analysis of prospectively collected data of patients who had undergone shoulder surgery and had returned for their 1-year follow-up. Two outcome measures were collected prior to surgery and at 1-year following surgery: the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and the Constant–Murley Score. Results: Data of 772 patients, 376 (49%) females, 396 males (51%); 288 (impingement syndrome), 332 (rotator cuff tear), and 152 (osteoarthritis) were included in the analysis. There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of bilateral symptoms being 44%, 28%, and 22% in the osteoarthritis, impingement syndrome, and rotator cuff tear groups, respectively (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of dominant side involvement was 71%, 67%, and 53% in the rotator cuff tear, impingement syndrome, and osteoarthritis groups (p < 0.0001). Older age and female sex were risk factors for development of bilateral symptoms only in patients with rotator cuff tear. Neither symptom bilaterality nor dominant arm involvement had a negative impact on patient-oriented disability outcome measures prior to or after surgery (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study shows that patients with osteoarthritis of the glenohumeral joint have the highest prevalence of bilateral shoulder complaints. The older age and the female sex increased the risk of having bilateral symptoms in patients with rotator cuff tear. Having bilateral shoulder symptoms or dominant side involvement was not associated with higher level of disability prior or after surgery.

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