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Evaluation of overuse elbow injuries.
E M Chumbley1, F G O'Connor, R P Nirschl
1Reid Health Services Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 78236-5300, USA.
American Family Physician
|March 1, 2000
Summary
Diagnosing elbow pain requires understanding elbow anatomy and patient history to pinpoint pain location and triggers. Treatment follows PRICEMM (protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation, medication, modalities) principles, with surgery for select cases.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
- Anatomy
Background:
- Elbow pain evaluation is complex due to joint intricacy and upper extremity centrality.
- Accurate diagnosis necessitates a thorough understanding of elbow anatomy, including articulations, ligaments, muscles, and nerves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline a systematic approach for evaluating elbow pain.
- To emphasize the importance of patient history and physical examination in diagnosis.
- To describe fundamental treatment principles for elbow injuries.
Main Methods:
- Detailed patient history focusing on symptom location and aggravating activities.
- Physical examination of the elbow and associated structures.
- Identification of at-risk musculotendinous structures for overuse injuries.
Main Results:
- Mechanical symptoms suggest intra-articular pathology; neurologic symptoms indicate nerve entrapment.
- Physical examination is key to confirming diagnoses, with diagnostic studies rarely needed.
- The PRICEMM (protection, rest, ice, compression, elevation, medication, modalities) acronym summarizes basic treatment.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive understanding of elbow anatomy and a targeted clinical evaluation are crucial for accurate diagnosis.
- Conservative management using PRICEMM principles is the cornerstone of treatment.
- Surgical intervention is reserved for specific, selected patient cases.