The Coincidence of Radial Tunnel Syndrome with Tennis Elbow

Lateral epicondylitis is a common disease that in some instances does not respond to the usual treatment, even after different treatment efforts. Management of lateral epicondylitis is firstly based upon the conservative treatments and local injection of steroids; but if radial tunnel syndrome presented coincidently, alternative management must be planned on surgical decompression of radial nerve. As a result, diagnosis of cases with radial tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow simultaneously is significantly important for the planning of the management. The aim of this study was to determine the coincidence of radial tunnel syndrome with tennis elbow. In a cross-sectional study, 52 patients with confirmed lateral epicondylitis who referred to orthopedic clinic of Kashani hospital (Isfahan, Iran) during 2013-2014 were studied. The coincidence of lateral epicondylitis and radial tunnel syndrome was investigated among them via clinical examination and electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV). In physical examination, coincidence of lateral epicondylitis with radial tunnel syndrome was seen in 24 patients (46.2%); according to EMG and NCV tests, this coincidence was seen in 19 patients (36.5%). Coincidence of lateral epicondylitis with carpal tunnel syndrome and lateral epicondyle of elbow sclerosis was seen in 4 (7.7%) and 7 patients (13.5%), respectively. Coincidence of radial tunnel syndrome with lateral epicondylitis is of high prevalence. So, it is necessary to conclude radial tunnel syndrome as the first diagnosis when faced to a patients suffering from tennis elbow who does not respond to usual conservative treatments; for these patients, supplementary paraclinical tests may be needed.