Published 2 September 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b3180
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b3180

Practice

10-Minute Consultation

Tennis elbow

Christian David Mallen, senior lecturer in general practice , Linda S Chesterton, lecturer in physiotherapy, Elaine M Hay, professor of community rheumatology

1 Arthritis Research Campaign National Primary Care Centre, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG

Correspondence to: C D Mallen c.d.mallen@cphc.keele.ac.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

A 47 year old decorator presents with a two month history of right elbow pain. The pain is worse when he grips a paintbrush or uses a paint roller on the ceiling.

Tennis elbow (lateral humeral epicondylitis) is common, peaking at age 35-55 and typically affecting the dominant arm. Men and women are equally affected. It is probably an overload injury related to minor or unrecognised injury (microtrauma). A careful taken history can exclude differential diagnoses, including referred pain and local elbow causes such as olecranon bursitis and osteoarthritis.

Tennis elbow pain is often mild. Episodes typically last six months to two years and usually resolve within 12 months. Acute pain typically lasts 6-12 weeks. Analgesics, such as over the counter paracetamol, co-codamol, or topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, provide adequate pain relief for most patients. Injection of corticosteroids (including triamcinolone, methylprednisolone, and hydrocortisone) with local anaesthetic can produce short term . . . [Full text of this article]


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