Acute and chronic tendinopathies at the elbow

Chronic elbow tendinitis (medial or lateral epicondylitis and triceps tendinitis) are common disorders that, overall, have a good prognosis but, even with optimum management, require a minimum of 3 to 6 months to resolve. Patient education, activity modification, splinting, and corticosteroid injections each serve a role in symptom resolution; surgery is required in less than 10% of cases and has a similarly long period (3 to 6 months) of recovery. Acute tendon injuries (biceps and triceps ruptures) require early (< 4 weeks) surgical repair but may be misdiagnosed, thus delaying management and requiring more involved surgical reconstruction. With appropriate treatment, the prognosis for each of these disorders is very good.