Tendinitis and Tendinopathies About the Elbow and Forearm

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic surgery
• Hand surgery
• Sports medicine

Background:

• Lateral epicondylitis, de Quervain tenosynovitis, and trigger finger are prevalent upper extremity tendinopathies.
• These conditions can cause significant patient frustration and impact daily activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline straightforward and effective management strategies for common upper extremity tendinopathies.
• To provide a guide for general orthopaedic surgeons managing these conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of common non-surgical interventions including physical therapy, bracing, and corticosteroid injections.
• Discussion of surgical options for recalcitrant or persistent cases of these tendinopathies.

Main Results:

• Many patients with lateral epicondylitis improve with conservative care, with surgery reserved for persistent cases.
• De Quervain tenosynovitis and trigger finger also respond well to non-surgical treatments, with surgery as a definitive option when needed.

Conclusions:

• Conservative management is effective for most cases of lateral epicondylitis, de Quervain tenosynovitis, and trigger finger.
• Surgical intervention provides a definitive solution for refractory cases of these common tendinopathies.
• General orthopaedic surgeons can confidently manage these prevalent upper extremity conditions using the described approaches.