[Neurophysiologic findings in radio-humeral epicondyle pathology]

A number of authors assumed a compression syndrome of the radial nerve or its branches to be responsible for the heterogenous classified picture of radiohumeral epicondylopathy. Various structural and functional stenoses have been discussed as possible causes. We performed electromyographies on the extensor muscles, subdividing from the radial epicondyle and found significant (p < 0.05) changes in 27/51 patients regarding latency, velocity of neural conduction and rate of polyphasic potentials. Especially affected were the extensor carpi radialis brevis and extensor digitorum muscle. These findings were confirmed by torque measurements and histologic observations from both muscular and tendon biopsies. In summary, we believe the model of a neurogenous origin of radio-humeral epicondylopathy to be an appropriate explanation.